anarcha-feminism

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Anarcha-feminism (also called anarchist feminism and anarcho-feminism) combines anarchism with feminism . It views patriarchy as a manifestation of hierarchy ^{[citation needed]} and thus a fundamental problem of society ^{[citation needed]}. Anarcha-feminists believe that the struggle against patriarchy is an essential part of class struggle, and the anarchist struggle against the State and capitalism^{[citation needed]}. In essence, the philosophy sees anarchist struggle as a necessary component of feminist struggle and vice-versa^{[citation needed]}. As Susan Brown puts it, "as anarchism is a political philosophy that opposes all relationships of power, it is inherently feminist". ^[1] Individualist forms of anarchist feminism have most adherents in the United States, while in Europe there has been more emphasis on collectivism.^[2]

Anarcha-feminism was inspired by early 20th century authors and theorists such as anarchist feminists Emma Goldman, Voltairine de Cleyre and Lucy Parsons.^[3] Early feminist Mary Wollstonecraft held proto-anarchist views^{[citation needed]}, and William Godwin, her husband, is often considered an important precursor to anarchist feminism^{[citation needed]}. In the Spanish Civil War, an anarchist and feminist group, Mujeres Libres ("Free Women"), organized to defend both anarchist and feminist ideas^{[citation needed]}.

Anarcha-feminists criticize the views of many of the traditional anarchist theorists like Pierre-Joseph Proudhon or Mikhail Bakunin^{[citation needed]}, as these often viewed patriarchy as a minor problem that was integral only to capitalism and would disappear along with it^{[citation needed]}. Some even supported patriarchy^{[citation needed]}. Proudhon, for example, viewed the family as the most basic unit of society and of his morality and thought women had the responsibility of fulfilling a traditional role within the family^{[citation needed]}.

An important aspect of anarcha-feminism is its opposition to traditional conceptions of family, education and gender roles^[4]. The institution of marriage is one of the most widely attacked^[5]. De Cleyre argued that marriage stifled individual growth^{[citation needed]}, and Goldman argued that it "is primarily an economic arrangement... [woman] pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life."^[6]. Anarcha-feminists have also argued for non-hierarchical family and educational structures^{[citation needed]}, and had a prominent role in the creation of the Modern School in New York City^{[citation needed]}, based on the ideas of Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia^{[citation needed]}.

In English-speaking anarcha-feminist circles in the United States, the term "Manarchist" has recently emerged as a pejorative label for male anarchists who are dismissive of feminist concerns, who are overtly antifeminist, or who behave in ways regarded as patriarchal and misogynistic^{[citation needed]}. The term was popularized^{[citation needed]} by the widely circulated^{[citation needed]} 2001 questionnaire Are You A Manarchist?

There is some concern that Anarcha-feminist in the developed world can be dismissive of third world feminist concerns. This has been noted especially in the plight of Anarcha-feminist in the Middle East.^{[citation needed]}

In modern times anarcha-feminism has been noted for its heavy influence on ecofeminism. "Ecofeminists rightly note that except for anarcha feminist, no feminist perspective has recognized the importance of healing the nature/culture division." ^[7]

Contemporary anarcha-feminist groups include Bolivia's Mujeres Creando, Radical Cheerleaders, and the annual La Rivolta! conference in Boston.

See also

• Radical feminism
• Ecofeminism

Sources

1. ^ Brown, Susan. "Beyond Feminism: Anarchism and Human Freedom" 'Anarchist Papers 3' Black Rose Books (1990) p. 208
2. ^ "Feminism: Anarchist" by Judy Greenway. 2000. Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues and Knowledge. Kramara, Cheris & Spender, Dale eds. Routledge. p. 712
3. ^ Dunbar-Ortiz, Roxanne 'Quiet Rumours: An Anarcha-Feminist Reader' Dark Star (2002) p.9
4. ^ Goldman, Emma "Marriage and Love", in Alix Kates Shulman (ed.), Red Emma Speaks: An Emma Goldman Reader, Schocken Books, N.Y., 1982, pp. 204-13.
5. ^ Goldman, "Marriage and Love".
6. ^ Goldman, "Marriage and Love", Red Emma Speaks, p. 205
7. ^ Tuana, Nacy. Tong, Rosemarie. 'Feminism and Philosophy' Westview Press (1995) p. 328

External links

• Anarcha- Communist Gender news
• Anarcha-Feminism (Infoshop.org)
• Anarcha
• Modern anarchist writings by women
• Sex, Race and Class by Selma James
• Quiet Rumours: an Anarcha-Feminist Reader by Dark Star Collective
• ROAD Collective Ontario Anarchist Networking Resource.
• Libertarian Communist Library Archive
• Anarchism: A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas - Volume One: From Anarchy to Anarchism (300CE-1939), ed. Robert Graham [1] includes material by Louise Michel, Charlotte Wilson, Voltairine de Cleyre, Emma Goldman, Lucia Sanchez Soarnil (Mujeres Libres), and Latin American (Carmen Lareva), Chinese (He Zhen) and Japanese (Ito Noe and Takamure Itsue) anarcha-feminists.

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