 Rape is a hate crime. This podcast analyses the forces that shape US rape in gender, culture, psychology and capitalism. 

Capitalism Hits Home

Why Does the US Lead the World in Rape?

Capitalism is a class system of a small employer class making profit from the labor of a huge class of employees, who depend on employers for survival. Patriarchy is a system in which men are entitled to appropriate services from women who are considered less than fully human. Both systems interact to shape rampant sexual abuse. In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad explores expressions of patriarchy and capitalism in the much publicized cases of Cuomo, Cosby, Weinstein, and Epstein.

Capitalism & Patriarchy - Cuomo, Cosby, Weinstein & Epstein

In the episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad talks about the importance of celebrating Labor, which is essential to life. But she argues that we need to go beyond and learn what our labor history is - something which is absent from our education.

The Labor History We Need to Celebrate - The One We Never Hear About

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad addresses the "labor shortage" in the US today. 9.2 million jobs remain open. Republicans and Democrats differ on what to do about this supposed shortage. 44% of US workers are low pay workers constantly struggling to survive. Maybe they just won't stand for it!

Why Are 9.2 Million US Jobs Open?

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad explores the concept of cruel optimism from Lauren Berlant's book. American culture teaches us to look on the bright side. Nonetheless, the blight side of US life is emerging. The media, corporate advertisement-driven as it is, hides the reasons why pandemic and recession blight spreads. People, and particularly men, are driven mad. They reach for their guns to reassert their supremacy. Reflexive optimism turns cruel.

Cruel Optimism

On this week's CHH, Dr. Fraad is joined by psychotherapist and author Tess Fraad-Wolff to talk about celebrity pop artist Britney Spears. Spears' plight captures our attention because she personifies American suffering. Her exploited, adolescent, coy, sugary sexuality presents her as an object of men's desire without her own desire. Spears represents the gender regression of the Right Wing. Her state of exploitation, earning millions that her boss-father-slavemaster appropriates. We identify because Britney's father's strategy is the strategy of US capitalism to control the American people: isolate, medicate, and appropriate. No wonder we are riveted.

Why Has Britney Spears' Pain Riveted America?

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad talks about the revolutionary class transformation experienced n the household from feudalism to other class forms, the independent household and the communist or communal household. She argues that many current political struggles such as struggles over abortion rights, birth control, and LGBTQ rights are in large part struggles over the conditions of existence for household feudalism and other household class formations.

Class Transformation in the Household

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad defines what class is and explores where it has hit in America. America has included 4 class formations: slavery, feudalism, capitalism, and communism. Except for the brief period of the New Deal, we have not experienced socialism, where a strong state regulates capitalism to provide crucial public support for its citizens. Dr. Fraad argues that, surprisingly, we have practiced feudalism in the household for most of our history.

What is Class?

We are back with a new season of CHH! In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad explores the question of identity politics. Identity politics can be liberating for those who identify as women, people of color, or GLBTQ members. Those identities need to be called out and claimed with pride. But Fraad asks why is our class identity excluded? Why limit and divide human beings when alliances can be made to create a powerful class identity movement that honors all of our identities?

Identity Politics - Class Politics

In this episode of CHH, Dr. Fraad discusses the most virulent examples of American violence: our world dominance in mass shootings and rape. She argues that violence converts the connection of people from their mutually acknowledged need for each other into a relationship of inequality, dominance and submission. Our goal is to break all arbitrary and hierarchical divisions between people. That equality and mutuality will save America.

Violence - A Shield for Emotional Vulnerability

America's Children are the source of omnipresent sentimental solicitude. At the same time, they are in fact massively neglected and in trouble. Dr. Fraad explores the suffering of American children and what can be done to change that trouble and restore joy to children, and their parents as well.

Children in the US Today

Where did our family form come from and how is it doing now? This episode of Capitalism Hits Home looks at what is happening in America's families. As Americans, we present ourselves as a family centered nation. However, our families are certainly not the center of our economic, political, or legal support systems. In fact, they are in deep trouble.Supports are needed and possible.

The American Family

On this week's CHH, Dr. Fraad and Prof. Forlano take on the NRA and militarism. The massive well funded lobbying of the NRA, disguised as a non-profit, has paid for friendly lawmakers.We can change that and enact and enforce laws to spur connection and fight male violence. We can change the culture of violence from gun shows to the glorification of violence in the media. We can join the rest of the world in emphasizing peace and negotiation on every level. We know how to do it!

The Socialist Feminist Way To Beat the NRA and Militarism

On this week's CHH, Dr. Fraad and Prof. Forlano talk about the intersection of capitalism with mass shootings. Why has the US had more than one mass shooting every day for a month? We are outliers. No other developed nation has had more than 18 mass shootings in the last 50 years. The shooters are overwhelmingly male. Fraad and Forlano look at the mutually shaping influences of capitalism, the NRA and guns sales, along with mass outsourcing of well paid male jobs, gender dislocation for men, and American retreat from connection with others in unions, bowling leagues, community organizations, and families. These combine with and feed narcissism, a capitalist affliction which hides our mutual connection with one another.

Capitalism's Connection to America's Mass Shootings

The movement to impeach New York's Governor Cuomo raises complex issues. Cuomo's sexually inappropriate gestures towards 10 of the women he employed, does not match the rape and sexual assault cases against Trump. While Cuomo's behavior is inappropriate and sexist, is it criminal? Dr. Fraad and Prof. Forlano talk about this, the corruption in US politics and the polarization of America.

Should Andrew Cuomo be Impeached?

How does capitalism affect our personal lives? How does the economy affect life at home, relationships at work, romance and dating? Capitalism Hits Home with Dr. Harriet Fraad explores what is happening in the economic realm and its impact on our individual and social psychology. More about Dr. Harriet Fraad: https://www.harrietfraad.com/about

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Capitalism Hits Home

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