Anarcha-feminism:
A purple and black flag is often used to represent Anarcha-feminism.
Anarcha-feminism (also called anarchist feminism and anarcho-feminism) combines anarchism with feminism. It generally views patriarchy as a manifestation of involuntary hierarchy. Anarcha-feminists believe that the struggle against patriarchy is an essential part of class struggle, and the anarchist struggle against the State. In essence, the philosophy sees anarchist struggle as a necessary component of feminist struggle and vice-versa. As Susan Brown puts it, "as anarchism is a political philosophy that opposes all relationships of power, it is inherently feminist".[1] Anarchist feminism appears in individualist and collectivist forms, with individualist forms having most adherents in the United States, while in Europe anarchist feminism has had more emphasis on collectivism.[2]
[edit] Origins
Anarcha-feminism was inspired by late 19th and early 20th century authors and theorists such as anarchist feminists Emma Goldman, Voltairine de Cleyre and Lucy Parsons.[3] In the Spanish Civil War, an anarchist and feminist group, Mujeres Libres ("Free Women"), organized to defend both anarchist and feminist ideas.[4]
The major male anarchist thinkers, with the exception of Proudhon, strongly supported women's equality. Bakunin, for example, opposed patriarchy and the way the law "subjects [women] to the absolute domination of the man." He argued that "[e]qual rights must belong to men and women" so that women can "become independent and be free to forge their own way of life." Bakunin foresaw the end of "the authoritarian juridical family" and "the full sexual freedom of women." [Bakunin on Anarchism, p. 396 and p. 397].[5] Proudhon, on the other hand, 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.[6]
Since the 1860s, anarchism's radical critique of capitalism and the state has been combined with a critique of patriarchy. Anarcha-feminists thus start from the precept that modern society is dominated by men. Authoritarian traits and values—domination, exploitation, aggression, competition. etc.—are integral to hierarchical civilizations and are seen as "masculine." In contrast, non-authoritarian traits and values—cooperation, sharing, compassion, sensitivity—are regarded as "feminine," and devalued. Anarcha-feminists have thus espoused creation of a non-authoritarian, anarchist society. They refer to the creation of a society, based on cooperation, sharing, mutual aid, etc. as the "feminization of society."[5]
[edit] Themes
An important aspect of anarcha-feminism is its opposition to traditional conceptions of family, education and gender roles.[7] The institution of marriage is one of the most widely attacked.[8] De Cleyre argued that marriage stifled individual growth,[9] 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.".[10] Anarcha-feminists have also argued for non-hierarchical family and educational structures, and had a prominent role in the creation of the Modern School in New York City, based on the ideas of Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia.[11]
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 coined in a 2001 questionnaire, "Are You a Manarchist?".[12]
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.[13]
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."[14]
Contemporary anarcha-feminist groups include Bolivia's Mujeres Creando, Radical Cheerleaders, and the annual La Rivolta! conference in Boston.
Recently, Wendy McElroy has defined a position (she describes it as "ifeminism" or "individualist feminism") that combines feminism with anarcho-capitalism or libertarianism, arguing that a pro-capitalist, anti-state position implies equal rights and empowerment for women.[15] Individualist anarchist feminism has grown from the US-based individualist anarchism movement.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Roberta A. Ackelsberg, Free Women of Spain: Anarchism and the Struggle for the Emancipation of Women (AK Press: 2005)
- Susan Brown, "Beyond Feminism: Anarchism and Human Freedom", Anarchist Papers 3 (Black Rose Books: 1990)
- Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, editor, Quiet Rumours: An Anarcha-Feminist Reader (Dark Star: 2002)
- Margaret S. Marsh, Anarchist Women, 1870–1920 (1981)
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Brown, p. 208.
- ^ "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
- ^ Dunbar-Ortiz, p.9.
- ^ Ackelsberg.
- ^ a b An Anarchist FAQ. What is Anarcha-Feminism?
- ^ Broude, N. and M. Garrard (1992). The Expanding Discourse: Feminism And Art History. p. 303. Westview Press. ISBN 978-0064302074
- ^ Emma Goldman, "Marriage and Love", in Alix Kates Shulman (ed.), Red Emma Speaks: An Emma Goldman Reader, Schocken Books, N.Y., 1982, pp. 204-13.
- ^ Goldman, "Marriage and Love".
- ^ Voltairine de Cleyre, They Who Marry Do Ill (1907)
- ^ Goldman, "Marriage and Love", Red Emma Speaks, p. 205
- ^ Paul Avrich, The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States.
- ^ Are You A Manarchist?
- ^[citation needed]
- ^ Tuana, Nacy. Tong, Rosemarie. 'Feminism and Philosophy' Westview Press (1995) p. 328
- ^ Wendy McElroy, XXX: A Woman's Right to Pornography.
[edit] Further reading
[edit] External links
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