The futures of feminism

by Valerie Bryson

This book makes the case for an inclusive form of socialist feminism that puts women with multiple disadvantages at its heart. It moves feminism beyond contemporary disputes, including those between some feminists and some trans women. Combining academic rigour with accessibility, the book demystifies some key feminist terms, including patriarchy and intersectionality, and shows their relevance to feminist politics today. It argues that the analysis of gender cannot be isolated from that of class or race, and that the needs of most women will not be met in an economy based on the pursuit of profit. Throughout, the book asserts the social, economic and human importance of the unpaid caring and domestic work that has been traditionally done by women. It concludes that there are some grounds for optimism about a future that could be both more feminist and more socialist.

264 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2021

Reviews

[Kab · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the introduction, after talking about trans rights, the overrepresentation of wealthy white women, and anticapitalism, she promotes Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Emma Watson, and Sheryl Sandberg. Despite arguing for coalitions and solidarity in difference, Bryson gives immoderate space to anti-trans fearmongering in chapter 4. There's a school report style that presents information so broad it becomes insubstantial. From the final chapter:

Feminist political methods are similarly diverse, ranging from the very local to the global, from academic research to mass demonstrations, from workplace campaigns to corporate initiatives and from lobbying parliaments to working with asylum seekers. Some feminist groups focus on specific groups of women, such as migrants, while some try to include women from all backgrounds. Some are deliberately non-hierarchical, and some are conventionally organised. Some feminists work in women-only groups, and many work with men in trade unions, political parties or direct-action campaigns.

Overall, it is accessibly written yet colourless, loosely sensible, and unrousing.

I'd read instead books she references, especially Feminism, Interrupted: Disrupting Power by Lola Olufemi and Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity by Julia Serano.