Sharon Smith
Encyclopedia
Sharon Smith is an American
socialist
writer
and activist. She is the author of Subterranean Fire: A History of Working-Class Radicalism in the United States and Women and Socialism: Essays on Women's Liberation.
Women and Socialism, published by Haymarket Books
in 2005, is a collection of essays on the origin of women's oppression
, the struggle for abortion
rights, the political trajectory of mainstream feminism
, the place of women in Islam
, and the ways socialism
could, in Smith's view, overcome women's oppression. In the course of some of these essays, Smith takes up an argument she had previously made in a lengthy article in the International Socialism Journal, arguing against identity politics
, which she views as a mistaken approach for feminism or any other movement against oppression.
Subterranean Fire, published by Haymarket in 2006, is a history of the US labor movement from the late 19th century through the 21st, focusing on the role of its left wing.
Smith writes a biweekly column for Socialist Worker titled "Which Side Are You On?", and writes regularly for other left-wing publications including CounterPunch
, Dissident Voice, and the International Socialist Review
. She is a leading member of the International Socialist Organization
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and activist. She is the author of Subterranean Fire: A History of Working-Class Radicalism in the United States and Women and Socialism: Essays on Women's Liberation.
Women and Socialism, published by Haymarket Books
Haymarket Books
Haymarket Books is a non-profit left-wing book publisher and distributor. It is published by the Center for Economic Research and Social Change...
in 2005, is a collection of essays on the origin of women's oppression
Oppression
Oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. It can also be defined as an act or instance of oppressing, the state of being oppressed, and the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, and...
, the struggle for abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
rights, the political trajectory of mainstream feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, the place of women in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and the ways socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
could, in Smith's view, overcome women's oppression. In the course of some of these essays, Smith takes up an argument she had previously made in a lengthy article in the International Socialism Journal, arguing against identity politics
Identity politics
Identity politics are political arguments that focus upon the self interest and perspectives of self-identified social interest groups and ways in which people's politics may be shaped by aspects of their identity through race, class, religion, sexual orientation or traditional dominance...
, which she views as a mistaken approach for feminism or any other movement against oppression.
Subterranean Fire, published by Haymarket in 2006, is a history of the US labor movement from the late 19th century through the 21st, focusing on the role of its left wing.
Smith writes a biweekly column for Socialist Worker titled "Which Side Are You On?", and writes regularly for other left-wing publications including CounterPunch
Counterpunch
Counterpunch can refer to:* Counterpunch , a punch in boxing* CounterPunch, a bi-weekly political newsletter* Counterpunch , a type of punch used in traditional typography* Punch-Counterpunch, a Transformers character...
, Dissident Voice, and the International Socialist Review
International Socialist Review
International Socialist Review may refer to:*International Socialist Review *International Socialist Review *International Socialist Review...
. She is a leading member of the International Socialist Organization
International Socialist Organization
The International Socialist Organization is a revolutionary socialist organization in the United States that identifies with the politics of International Socialism, a current of Trotskyism, and the Marxist political tradition that American socialist writer and activist Hal Draper called...
.