1st Edition
The Evolution of Socialist Feminism from Eleanor Marx to AOC
The Evolution of Socialist Feminism from Eleanor Marx to AOC traces the intersection of feminism and socialism as it has played out in the socialist movements arising in Europe and North America in the 19th through early 21st centuries.
From well-known figures in the history of socialism such as Rosa Luxemburg, Sylvia Pankhurst, and Angela Davis, to lesser-known individuals including Claudia Jones, Sheila Rowbotham and Zillah Eisenstein, this book examines the socialist feminists who have been among the most powerful voices insisting on freedom of expression and participatory democracy within the socialist movement as well as within the larger society. It considers how these figures contributed to what has become a 21st century multi-racial grassroots socialist feminist movement led by young women of color, playing a major role in radical movements across the globe.
The Evolution of Socialist Feminism from Eleanor Marx to AOC is an important text for undergraduate students of politics, sociology, and gender studies, as well as for the general reader.
INTRODUCTION Part I: EUROPEAN SOCIALIST FEMINISM OF THE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY 1. Eleanor Marx (1855 –1898) and Lily Braun (1865 –1916): The Marxist and the Social Democrat 2. Rosa Luxemburg (1895–1905) and Clara Zetkin (1857–1933): The Visionary and the Organizer 3. Alexandra Kollontai (1872 –1952): Socialist Feminism and the Russian Revolution 4. Sylvia Pankhurst (1882-1960): Socialist Feminism and the Suffrage Movement Part II: AMERICAN RADICALISM OF 19TH AND FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY 5: Emma Goldman (1869 -1940): Anarchism and American Radicalism 6: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (1890 –1964): Socialist Feminism, the Labor Movement, and the Communist Party 7: Rose Schneiderman (1882-1972): Socialist Feminism, the Labor Movement, and the New Deal 8: Claudia Jones (1915 – 24 1964): Socialist Feminism, the Struggle for Racial and Gender Justice, and the International Communist Movement PART III THE REBIRTH OF RADICALISM IN THE 1960s AND 1970s 9: Angela Davis (1944- ): Socialist/Communist Feminism and the Black Liberation Movement 10: Sheila Rowbotham (1943- ) and Zillah Eisenstein (1948- ): Socialist Feminism and Second Wave Feminism in the Streets and in the Academy PART IV: THE EARLY 21st CENTURY REVIVAL OF SOCIALIST FEMINISM 11: Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (AOC) and the Growth of Multi-Racial Socialist Feminism 12. Conclusion
Biography
Karen Bojar is Professor Emerita of English and Women’s Studies at the Community College of Philadelphia (USA). She has written numerous books and articles on feminism, most recently Feminist Organizing Across the Generations (Routledge, 2021), which argues for the critical importance of strong social movement organizations.
"This inspired book traces the origins and history of socialist feminism through the important visions and contributions of twelve amazing activists who influenced movements across Europe and the US. Although their stories have been told before, never have they been put in conversation with one another to chronicle the influential analysis and politics that shaped socialist feminist movements over a century. The Evolution of Socialist Feminism is a significant addition to the feminist archive and a valuable resource for those teaching courses in social movements, women’s activism, and feminist theory, among others in WGSS and related fields. It is also an important text for young activists wanting to learn more about the feminist foremothers who helped shape, and continue to inflect contemporary feminist politics."
- Nancy Naples, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Connecticut
