Feminism for the 99% also got alluded to by someone on one of the other threads, but you wouldn't have noticed without following the link. I've not read it yet, but was really impressed by a talk one of the authors Tithi Bhattacharya gave last year.
I read it this weekend. Thanks for the recommendation.
Its a great read.
Its a manifesto in the tradition of the Communist manifesto plus a preface which provides some background to the concepts used.
So its polemical and not an academic work. Its also pretty scathing of opponents. in the tradition of Marx.
To get away from the issues of Trans ( see recent threads on feminism) its positive about all sexualities and gender non conformity. This is a given in the pamphlet.
The opponents are Liberal Feminism and the populist Right.
The manifesto starts with comparing the "lean in" Feminism of the boardroom with the mass strike of Spanish women on International Women's day. "Lean in" Feminism of the 1% will only improve matters for the already privileged women. So they can also enforce Neo Liberalism on the 99%. The individualist liberal feminist ideology, that came into prominence with the rise of Neo Liberalism has failed the majority of women world wide. The recent crisis of Capitalism has discredited it.
So not a pamphlet for women who want to break the glass ceiling in the City. Rather enjoyed that aspect of the pamphlet.
The authors , correctly imo , point out the origins of International Women's day are socialist. That Second Wave feminism was socially radical. The recent crisis of Capitalism gives an opportunity to revive that tradition of Feminism.
This is a Marxist Feminist pamphlet.
A major part to the the theory is "Social Reproduction Theory"
Social Reproduction Theory — Tithi Bhattacharya
I really need to read more this.
I was going to to look at more on this before writing up on this manifesto.
But thought I would write something now. I've leant it to my partner.
On Spain - Spanish people live with the legacy of Franco. Any demonstration about rights for women is labelled as leftist. The Right in Spain are the heirs of Franco. There isn't a middle ground in Spain on issues of women's rights.
On Social Reproduction Theory. This is imo the cornerstone of the pamphlet.
In Marxism Capital uses the the worker to produce profit. This takes place in factories for example. In order to get the wage slave to the place of work a whole lot of mainly unpaid social labour needs to be done. Cooking to childcare.Also long term things like education in schools. This is termed Social Reproduction in Marxist terms. Mr Capitalist of course has no interest in this. As he is only interested in getting the workers nose on the grindstone in the morning.
Social Reproduction is also about things like housing and healthcare. All are needed to keep the workforce going. Id say emotional labour is another.
Under Capitalism its women who play the major role in social Reproduction. This is unpaid work the Capitalist profits from.
So it was in Capitals interest to keep women doing this. Keep them oppressed.
In Western Countries there was a short period when the welfare state- the social wage- did start to socialise and provide some aspects of social reproduction. This has been rolled back with the growth of Neo Liberalism.
The recent crisis of Capitalism, is according to the authors, a Social crisis. This has affected women ( globally- this manifesto is to its credit about not just Europe) negatively.
Its a social crisis as its also a crisis of social reproduction. The actual basis of the present order is under threat. Socially and ecologically.
So the author make argument that its on the terrain of social reproduction that the struggle against Capitalism is to be fought now.
They give the example of mass women's strikes, women leading struggles against loss of indigenous land etc worldwide as showing a possibility of international opposition to Globalised Capitalism.
Its women globally who bear the burden of social reproduction. They are potentially a worldwide force to dismantle a social order that exploits women. And Capitalism exploits women doubly now. With the Neo Liberal austerity cuts / privatisation of what were social services women now work for capitalists and work ( unpaid) to socially reproduce society.
A major point the authors make is that they wish to to go beyond the Identity politics versus ( traditional ) class struggle discussion. Whilst opposing Identity politics they want an expanded vision of class struggle that acknowledges difference but through struggle against the present historical social order - Capitalism- will have people working together. This is a learning process not a rigid orthodoxy.
A few aspects of the pamphlet I'm not so sure about.
I think this pamphlet is written partly from a US perspective. On violence against women they argue that Capitalism fosters this. I can see the argument. Capitalism is at base a form of direct and indirect violence to make people conform to the system. Violence against women is an aspect of that. Laws against violence to women are Liberal Feminism and don't take account of the fact that under Capitalism the legal system/ police are oppressors of the working class/ people of colour.
I think just seeing domestic violence as due to Capitalism is wrong. Its a cross class issue. Laws to protect women are gains. Even if they are reformist. IMO.
This is a polemical pamphlet. What I liked about it is that its gives positive hope for change. Its about building alliances.
Anyway there is more. But that is my thoughts for now.
Definitely worth a read. And if one wants more the authors are on YouTube and above is one of the writers website.
) is unintentionally feminist because it points to the restrictions imposed on women by a patriarchal system.
