Socialist feminism
Encyclopedia
Socialist feminism is a branch of feminism
that focuses upon both the public and private spheres of a woman's life and argues that liberation can only be achieved by working to end both the economic
and cultural
sources of women's oppression
. Socialist feminism is a dualist theory that broadens Marxist feminism
's argument for the role of capitalism
in the oppression of women and radical feminism
's theory of the role of gender
and the patriarchy
. Socialist feminists reject radical feminism’s main claim that patriarchy the only source of oppression of women.
Socialist feminism gets some of their ideas from Marxism; specifically a historical materialist
point of view, which means that they relate their ideas to the material and historical conditions of people’s lives. Those conditions are largely expressed through capitalist and patriarchal relations. However, they reject his idea that class and class struggle are the only defining aspects of understanding the current situation.
Marx felt that when class oppression was overcome, gender oppression would vanish as well. According to socialist feminists, this view of gender oppression as a sub-class of class oppression is naive and much of the work of socialist feminists has gone towards separating gender phenomena from class phenomena.
In 1972 the Chicago Women's Liberation Union
published "Socialist Feminism: A Strategy for the Women's Movement," which is believed to be the first to use the term "socialist feminism," in publication.
Other socialist feminists, notably two long-lived American
organizations Radical Women
and the Freedom Socialist Party
, point to the classic Marxist writings of Frederick Engels (The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State) and August Bebel
(Woman and Socialism) as a powerful explanation of the link between gender oppression and class exploitation.
On the other hand, the Socialist Party USA
is an example of a socialist feminist party which is not explicitly Marxist (although some members identify as Marxists). The party's statement of principles says, "Socialist feminism confronts the common root of sexism, racism and classism: the determination of a life of oppression or privilege based on accidents of birth or circumstances. Socialist feminism is an inclusive way of creating social change. We value synthesis and cooperation rather than conflict and competition."
that is oppressive for women. Thus, motherhood is one of the obstacles that prevent women from going to work outside of home. It is like a second job that women do not get paid or appreciated for. However, oppression is not caused by women giving birth to a child. The way that the work outside of home is structured makes it problematic for women to enjoy motherhood and stay independent.
Society cannot be changed if we overlook this aspect of our lives. This means that we have to take into account the biological aspects of motherhood, as well as the upbringing of the children.
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...
that focuses upon both the public and private spheres of a woman's life and argues that liberation can only be achieved by working to end both the economic
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
and cultural
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
sources 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...
. Socialist feminism is a dualist theory that broadens Marxist feminism
Marxist feminism
Marxist feminism is a sub-type of feminist theory which focuses on the dismantling of capitalism as a way of liberating women. Marxist feminism states that private property, which gives rise to economic inequality, dependence, political confusion, and ultimately unhealthy social relations between...
's argument for the role of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
in the oppression of women and radical feminism
Radical feminism
Radical feminism is a current theoretical perspective within feminism that focuses on the theory of patriarchy as a system of power that organizes society into a complex of relationships based on an assumption that "male supremacy" oppresses women...
's theory of the role of gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
and the patriarchy
Patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which the role of the male as the primary authority figure is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination...
. Socialist feminists reject radical feminism’s main claim that patriarchy the only source of oppression of women.
Socialist feminism gets some of their ideas from Marxism; specifically a historical materialist
Historical materialism
Historical materialism is a methodological approach to the study of society, economics, and history, first articulated by Karl Marx as "the materialist conception of history". Historical materialism looks for the causes of developments and changes in human society in the means by which humans...
point of view, which means that they relate their ideas to the material and historical conditions of people’s lives. Those conditions are largely expressed through capitalist and patriarchal relations. However, they reject his idea that class and class struggle are the only defining aspects of understanding the current situation.
Marx felt that when class oppression was overcome, gender oppression would vanish as well. According to socialist feminists, this view of gender oppression as a sub-class of class oppression is naive and much of the work of socialist feminists has gone towards separating gender phenomena from class phenomena.
In 1972 the Chicago Women's Liberation Union
Chicago Women's Liberation Union
The Chicago Women's Liberation Union was a women's liberation organization based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The organization served as an umbrella organization for numerous groups who worked within communities nationwide to bring awareness, programming and opportunities to women...
published "Socialist Feminism: A Strategy for the Women's Movement," which is believed to be the first to use the term "socialist feminism," in publication.
Other socialist feminists, notably two long-lived American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
organizations Radical Women
Radical Women
Radical Women is a socialist feminist, grassroots activist organization that provides a radical voice within the feminist movement, a feminist voice within the Left, and trains women to be leaders in the movements for social and economic justice...
and the Freedom Socialist Party
Freedom Socialist Party
The Freedom Socialist Party is a socialist political party with a unique program of revolutionary feminism that emerged from a split in the United States Socialist Workers Party in 1966. It is currently a working class organization that works towards creating social justice and order for all...
, point to the classic Marxist writings of Frederick Engels (The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State) and August Bebel
August Bebel
Ferdinand August Bebel was a German Marxist politician, writer, and orator. He is best remembered as one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.-Early years:...
(Woman and Socialism) as a powerful explanation of the link between gender oppression and class exploitation.
On the other hand, the Socialist Party USA
Socialist Party USA
The Socialist Party USA is a multi-tendency democratic-socialist party in the United States. The party states that it is the rightful continuation and successor to the tradition of the Socialist Party of America, which had lasted from 1901 to 1972.The party is officially committed to left-wing...
is an example of a socialist feminist party which is not explicitly Marxist (although some members identify as Marxists). The party's statement of principles says, "Socialist feminism confronts the common root of sexism, racism and classism: the determination of a life of oppression or privilege based on accidents of birth or circumstances. Socialist feminism is an inclusive way of creating social change. We value synthesis and cooperation rather than conflict and competition."
Socialist Feminism and Motherhood
There is an ongoing expectation of women to be mothers, whether they want to or not. Women bear and raise children, which causes a division of labourDivision of labour
Division of labour is the specialisation of cooperative labour in specific, circumscribed tasks and likeroles. Historically an increasingly complex division of labour is closely associated with the growth of total output and trade, the rise of capitalism, and of the complexity of industrialisation...
that is oppressive for women. Thus, motherhood is one of the obstacles that prevent women from going to work outside of home. It is like a second job that women do not get paid or appreciated for. However, oppression is not caused by women giving birth to a child. The way that the work outside of home is structured makes it problematic for women to enjoy motherhood and stay independent.
Society cannot be changed if we overlook this aspect of our lives. This means that we have to take into account the biological aspects of motherhood, as well as the upbringing of the children.
Theorists
- Johanna BrennerJohanna BrennerJohanna Brenner is an American feminist and sociologist whose writing and thought is in the socialist-feminist vein.A graduate of Reed College and the University of California, Los Angeles , she spent four years as a telephone installation technician worker in the 1970s...
- Zillah Eisenstein
- Barbara EhrenreichBarbara Ehrenreich-Early life:Ehrenreich was born Barbara Alexander to Isabelle Oxley and Ben Howes Alexander in Butte, Montana, which she describes as then being "a bustling, brawling, blue collar mining town."...
- Clara FraserClara FraserClara Fraser was a feminist and socialist political organizer, who co-founded and led the Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women.-Early life:...
- Emma GoldmanEmma GoldmanEmma Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century....
- Donna HarawayDonna HarawayDonna J. Haraway is currently a Distinguished Professor Emerita in the History of Consciousness Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, United States...
- Heidi I. Hartmann
- Sheila RowbothamSheila RowbothamSheila Rowbotham is a British socialist feminist theorist and writer.-Early life:Rowbotham was born in Leeds, the daughter of a salesman for an engineering company and an office clerk From an early age, she was deeply interested in history...
- Sylvia WalbySylvia WalbySylvia Walby OBE, is one of the world's leading authorities on gender. She is a British sociologist, currently Professor of Sociology at Lancaster University...
- Nellie WongNellie WongNellie Wong is a poet and activist for feminist and socialist causes.-Biography:Wong was born in Oakland, California to Chinese immigrants. Her father had immigrated to Oakland in 1912....
- Alison M. Jaggar
See also
- Oppressors-oppressed distinctionOppressors-oppressed distinctionOppressors-oppressed distinction or dominant-dominated opposition, is an influential political argument. One of its first uses was by Hegel in his 1802 The German Constitution, in which he said that "The Catholics had been in the position of oppressors, and the Protestants of the oppressed." Its...
- History of FeminismHistory of feminismThe history of feminism involves the story of feminist movements and of feminist thinkers. Depending on time, culture and country, feminists around the world have sometimes had different causes and goals...
- Capitalist Patriarchy and the Case for Socialist FeminismCapitalist Patriarchy and the Case for Socialist FeminismCapitalist Patriarchy and the Case for Socialist Feminism was a collection of essays assembled and anthologized by Zillah R. Eisenstein in 1978....
- Material feminismMaterial feminismMaterial feminism examines the "material conditions under which social arrangements, including those of gender hierarchy, develop" It argues that "material conditions of all sorts play a vital role in the social production of gender"....
External links
- The Radical Women Manifesto: Socialist Feminist Theory, Program and Organizational Structure
- The socialist feminist project by Nancy Holmstrom
- Socialist Feminism: The First Decade, 1966-76 by Gloria Martin
- Silvia Federici, recorded live at Fusion Arts, NYC. 11.30.04
- What is Socialist Feminism? by Barbara Ehrenreich at the CWLU Herstory Archive
- Entry for Socialist Feminism in the Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History
- Socialist Feminism: A Strategy for the Women's Movement By Hyde Park Chapter, Chicago Women's Liberation Union
- London Project for a Participatory Society A Canadian "anti-racist, pro-feminist, anti-capitalist organization"