Gender and Reproduction: Or, Babies and the State - JANE JENSON Introduction The capitalist state's contribution to the oppres- sion of women has been relatively under analysed in recent Marxist feminists' debates about the material bases of gender oppression.' Nevertheless, Marxist feminists can not escape a concern with the capitalist state which obviously continues to have a major effect on the structure of the family and gender relations. Everyday observation of the law, welfare program- mes, educational institutions, and family policy indicates that state actions affect the ways in which feminine and masculine Studies in Political Economy 20, Summer 1986 9