Moving towards solidarity - Laurie Penny
Transphobic feminism makes no sense, argues Laurie Penny.
For decades, the feminist movement has been split over the status of trans people, and of trans women in particular. High-profile feminists such as Germaine Greer, Jan Raymond and Julie Bindel have spoken out against what Greer terms "people who think they are women, have women's names, and feminine clothes and lots of eyeshadow, who seem to us to be some kind of ghastly parody".
She’s just not that into you - Nina Power
Nina Power's critical review of Tiqqun's Theory of the Young-Girl.
How best to describe the colonization of the body at this particular juncture of capitalist life? Much recent theorizing has focused on a kind of war of affects where depression, euphoria and other states of being are read not merely as signs or symptoms, but as directly produced by (and productive of) particular economic relations.
Anarcho-feminism and Louise Michel - Marian Leighton
Marian Leighton on the beliefs and eventful life of the revolutionary Louise Michel.
Our Generation, 21, (Summer 1990) pp. 22-29
http://blackrosebooks.net/our_generation_journal/volume21
Challenging patriarchy in political organizing
Examples of sexism in political organizing:
· Most political organizations and meetings are still dominated by men, and even more dominated by male speakers
· Women have to struggle a lot harder to prove their capabilities as political activists, their intelligence on political issues, and to be taken seriously as committed organizers
SWP's Tom Walker: Why I am resigning
A journalist at the Socialist Workers Party newspaper on his decision to quit following the way the grouping dealt with accusations of rape and sexual harassment by female members against a leader of the party. Trigger warning for sexual harassment.
The Socialist Workers Party is in deep crisis - as it has been for several months now. The reason is simple: an allegation of rape against Martin Smith, the then central committee member now referred to on some parts of the internet as comrade Delta, and the way it was handled by the party.
Activist scenes are no safe space for women: On abuse of activist women by activist men
Tamara K. Nopper on the abuse of women by male activists and its unacceptable toleration within activist circles. Trigger warning for abuse.
As a woman who has experienced physical and emotional abuse from men, some of whom I had long relationships with, it is always difficult to learn from other activist women that they are being abused by activist
men.
Women and feminism - reading guide
Libcom.org's reading guide on feminism, women and women's struggles against patriarchy and capital.
Key texts
- Socialism, anarchism and feminism - Carol Ehrlich - Essay arguing that to be effective, feminism must not simply be socialist (opposed to capitalism), but also anarchist - opposed to all forms of domination.
Why I joined the Party: An Africana womanist reflection
Regina Jennings' personal account on why she joined the Black Panther Party, her personal development and the sexism that she faced within the organisation.
TRIGGER WARNING: sexual harassment
As seen in Chapter Eleven of Charles E. Jones' book The Black Panther Party Reconsidered, pages 257 - 265.
Theorizing patriarchy - Silvia Walby
Silvia Walby's 1990 book sets out a dual-systems approach to theorizing capitalism and patriarchy, synthesising Marxist and radical feminist perspectives.
Sylvia Walby provides an overview of feminist theoretical debates – Marxism, radical and liberal feminism, post–structuralism and dual systems theory. She shows how each can be applied to six key social structures: wage labour, housework, culture, sexuality, violence and the state. Her arguments are backed by drawing on empirical findings.











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