Anarcha-feminism

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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]

Contents

[edit] History

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]

Anarcha-feminists criticize the views of some 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]

[edit] Themes

An important aspect of anarcha-feminism is its opposition to traditional conceptions of family, education and gender roles[5]. The institution of marriage is one of the most widely attacked[6]. De Cleyre argued that marriage stifled individual growth[7], 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."[8]. 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.[9]

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?".[10]

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.[11]

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." [12]

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.[13] Individualist anarchist feminism has grown from the US-based individualist anarchism movement.

Anarcho-primitivism has been cited[who?] as a form of anarchism that addresses feminist concerns. Anarcho-primitivists, inspired by the work of anthropologists such as Jared Diamond[14] and Eleanor Leacock - who describe a typically egalitarian relationship between men and women in foraging societies - believe that agriculture not only gave rise to forms of domination such as class distinctions but to patriarchy and sexism as well.[15]

[edit] See also

Anarchism Portal

[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

  1. ^ Brown, 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, p.9.
  4. ^ Ackelsberg.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Goldman, "Marriage and Love".
  7. ^ Voltairine de Cleyre, They Who Marry Do Ill (1907)
  8. ^ Goldman, "Marriage and Love", Red Emma Speaks, p. 205
  9. ^ Paul Avrich, The Modern School Movement: Anarchism and Education in the United States.
  10. ^ Are You A Manarchist?
  11. ^[citation needed]
  12. ^ Tuana, Nacy. Tong, Rosemarie. 'Feminism and Philosophy' Westview Press (1995) p. 328
  13. ^ Wendy McElroy, XXX: A Woman's Right to Pornography.
  14. ^ Microsoft Word - mistake.rtf
  15. ^ John Zerzan - Patriarchy, Civilization, and the Origins of Gender

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