Feminism and the Marxist Movement

by Mary-Alice Waters

Since the founding of the modern revolutionary workers movement nearly 150 years ago, Marxists have championed the struggle for women's rights and explained the economic roots in class society of women's oppression.
Photos.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Politics, History, Sociology, Philosophy

44 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Socialist feminist, journalist and activist in the United States.

Waters became involved in Trotskyist politics at a young age, and joined the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) in the 1960s. She became the editor of their youth paper, Young Socialist, and the national secretary of the Young Socialist Alliance.

In the early 1980s, Waters, along with Jack Barnes and others in the SWP leadership, began to reject the label of "Trotskyism" and the theory of Permanent Revolution, in favour of building links with the Cuban Communist Party and Sandinista National Liberation Front.

Today, Waters is the President of the Pathfinder Press and the editor of New International magazine. She has written a number of books on political topics.

Reviews

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary-Alice Waters, in the 1970s, gave a speech, defending Marxism from feminist attacks. She feels several errors have been made in denigrating Marxism has anti-feminist.

The first mistake is an ahistorical reading. By this she means, for example, rejecting Aristotle entirely, for not writing in favor of slave rebellion, albeit he at least brought the issue of slavery up. She thinks 1970’s feminist, are applying post WWII standards, to 19th century and early 20th century thinkers, who, in their given historical moment, were already ahead of their time on feminist issues, than the rest of society by comparison. She cites the works of Lenin, Trotsky, Marx, and Engels, each of which were ahead of their era, and Lenin and Trotsky by today’s standards are up to speed with 21st century feminism.

The second mistake she believes feminist make is equating Stalinism, and right-wing Marxism, with all Marxism. Stalin towards his death put an emphasis on the nuclear family unit, outlawed abortions and divorce, and basically set women back, compared to the advances made under Lenin and the earlier Bolsheviks. Trotsky documented this well in several essays and books. Thus, to point to Stalinism, or other right wing Marxist, was a representation of the overall attitude of Marxism towards women – while Trotsky and other Marxist are actively refuting such policies – is to be myopic.

The third mistake she thinks feminist make are factual mistakes. As already indicated in regards to Stalinism, and Trotsky. Overall though she points out how socialist were often the first to let women be party managers, operate and manage protest and strikes, and steer committees, long before main stream political partys would ever tolerate it. The International was also the first ‘government’ body to allow for elections of women into office; often at the request of Marx. The list goes on.

The next issue Waters raises with Feminist is a philosophic issue, pointing out the bourgeois feminism, i.e., feminism that just demands equal pay, and access to the same jobs as men, does not liberate women, but only moves into the exploited class. Moreover, she believes bourgeois feminist fail to see the difference between actual women liberation, and capitalist democracy. She cites in Lenin who pointed out that winning the right to vote, and abortion rights – while they ought be struggled for – are a result of capitalism, and not failures in democracy in general. Even with democratic rights, economic factors will still guarantee that women can or cannot afford the actual abortion, or will need an abortion based on the inability to raise a child. Moreover, divorce (whether or not to have one) frequently revolves around income status, etc. Thus, bourgeoisie feminist are fighting a battle of conformity, and not radical liberation.

Overall a very concise, factual, and easy read.

[Kavyarshan]

ترجمه‌‌ی دو مقاله‌/کتابچه‌ی معروف
 "Feminism and the Marxist Movement" و "Is Biology Women's Destiny?"
کنار هم قرار گرفتن و این کتاب رو تشکیل دادن.

مقاله‌ی اول مرور کوتاهی در رابطه با بررسی رابطه‌ی فمنیسم با یکسری از جنبش‌های مارکسیستی/سوسیالیستی دهه‌های اخیره که با اینکه گاهی اوقات شاید شلخته (از نظر سیر تاریخی) می‌شد اما در کل نکات خیلی جالب و مفیدی داره.

مقاله‌ی دوم هم بطور کلی در مورد بررسی باورهای غلط رایج در زیست‌شناسی و جمعیت‌شناسی در رابطه بدن و جایگاه زن در تاریخه. ارجاع‌های متنوعی از اجتماعات حیوانی و همینطور جوامع قبیله‌ای داده شده و در نهایت با تکیه بر اونها، تمام باورها و افسانه‌های غلط مردسالارانه‌ی رخنه کرده در زیست‌شناسی و جمعیت‌شناسی رو رد می‌کنه. در عین داشتن نکات مفید و فراوانش، متن خیلی ساده و روانی هم داره.

ترجمه‌ی قابل قبولی هم داشت هرچند یکم توی بخش اول باهاش چالش داشتم. البته پی‌دی‌اف نسخه‌‌های اصلیش هم در دسترسه.

پ.ن: "Is Biology Women's Destiny?" بطور جداگونه هم توسط همین نشر (طلایه پرسو) ترجمه شده.
که اون هم فکر می‌کنم مدت‌ها مثل این کتاب از تجدید چاپش می‌گذره و کیمباب شده. 

[Kat V · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m reading this roughly 50 years after the original speech/article. It’s incredibly short but poignant. There are things I personally disagree with, but the importance of the speech speaks for itself. 4.2 stars

[Marc Lichtman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is based on a speech given at a socialist educational conference in Oberlin, Ohio in August 1972. I was there, and still remember it. It's quite short but gives a good summary of the connection between Marxism and the fight for women's liberation.

Other must-reads connected to the topic include: the The Communist Manifesto,The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, The Emancipation of Women; From the Writings of V. I. Lenin, Women and the Family by Leon Trotsky, and Women in Cuba: The Making of a Revolution within the Revolution ' by Vilma Espín and others.

Also, Cosmetics, Fashion, and the Exploitation of Women by Evelyn Reed, Joseph Hansen, hHansen, and Mary-Alice Waters.