The concept of feminism and its underlying philosophy were first categorically and logically explained- in other words, theorized by Friedrich Engels in his seminal book titled ‘The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State’ published in 1884, where he argues that the subjugation, the sexual division of labour, subjugation of children and child labour are absolute fundamental preconditions for capitalism to function. Without that sexual division of labour capitalism would collapse. The daughter of Karl Marx, Eleanor Marx for her actual programme of political action and organization on feminism was inspired by Engels not by her father because she understood that feminist movement or fight for rights would definitely be limited in the existing structure- in the existing structure this movement was not going to solve the economic problems and the problem of social inequality. Her father put the issue somewhat emotionally. He never tried to invent solutions of these problems in a perspective where women’s equality and feminism stood programmatically. It is Friedrich Engels who did the job.
If one reads the writings of the forerunners of feminism in Bangladesh, deceased Humayun Azad or Taslima Nasrin, he or she will not have the feeling that these feminists understood the issue and were able to formulate solutions to ensure rights for women and eradicate the social inequality in a logical and pragmatic way- in a way how the first feminist social scientist, Friedrich Engels directed. (Ref. Rachel Holmes, 2014)
N N Tarun Chakravorty 