Anarchist Feminist

[MadamePewter]

Does anyone consider themselves to be one? I’m just looking for some idea what it’s all about (apart from the obvious) as I stumbled across an event and the concept intrigued me.

There used to be quite a few Anarchist Feminists who were sort of closer to Radical Feminism but were independently socialist in 70s.

Nowadys there are a number of groups who usually call themselves Anarcho Feminists, and (I think) are more likely to be part of the Occupy Movement etc.. However many of them (all of them?) are very woke and dislike gender critical feminism.

Not forgetting that Helen Steel was thrown out of the Anarchist Bookfair. helensteelbookfairstatement.wordpress.com/

What is the event you've seen?

Not sure that current anarchist feminism has anything to do with the most famous one, Emma Goldman - she wrote this 110 years ago and the situation hasn't changed much (although her language is dated):

"Nowhere is woman treated according to the merit of her work, but rather as a sex. It is therefore almost inevitable that she should pay for her right to exist, to keep a position in whatever line, with sex favors. Thus it is merely a question of degree whether she sells herself to one man, in or out of marriage, or to many men. Whether our reformers admit it or not, the economic and social inferiority of woman is responsible for prostitution."

www.marxists.org/reference/archive/goldman/works/1910/traffic-women.htm

Used to be a card carrying anarchist feminist once upon a time (well, for some time ... i.e. until we managed to reach a consensus-based decision that card-carrying was an instrument of capitalist oppression ... ).

Silly jokes aside: I'm actually still very fond of classical anarchist thought on women and feminism. (And on a lot of things, actually, I've just found the capitalist pigs a lot easier to work alongside on a personal level, and that was kind of that.)

Absolutely second Emma Goldman as a source on classical anarchist thinking on women. She's absolutely brilliant (though in some ways controversially so - e.g. she opposed women's suffrage arguing that, slight oversimplification - she's quite elaborate, under patriarchy women had been groomed to vote against their own best interests and were better off helping to bring about the revolution that would truly enfranchise them). Love her on the economics of sex. And on motherhood (she didn't have any children), love and marriage. And just in general.

There are some bona fide anarchists still left. In general, though, yes, modern "anarchists" tend to be uber woke. This is arguably because anarchism has a decent history of serving as the teenage rebellion ideology of choice. As a former dead-serious, having read everyone from Marx to Bakunin and Berkman young anarchist, I struggled even in the late 90s/early 00s with how many of my "comrades" were mostly about "sticking it to the fucking toffs and to the coppers".

Can still only thoroughly recommend reading up, though. As stated above, go for Goldman as an approachable entryway.

Just, whatever you do, stay away from consensus-based decision making if you value your sanity.

Sort of, in an idealistic, 'it'll never happen' way. If I had to label myself I'd be more an enviro-anarcho-feminist. With anarchism meaning self rule, no government, with society based on principles of voluntary cooperation. Not punks violently fighting in the streets, which is more nilhistic to me (though that was actually effective during the 1990 Poll Tax protest riots!)

Some democratic principles fit with my approach to anarchism, especially in terms of active citizens deliberating to build consensus however everyone would have to be involved & take responsiblity for it ever to work.

Anarchism is a contender for me as I don't think we have ever had a functioning democracy in Britain. The closest we came was with the post-war consensus in the 40s & 50s. Take your pick of oligarchy or plutocracy built on centuries of monarchy, autocracy & theocracy, this is how we've been governed. We are still subjects not citizens in UK. Democracy could be a solution but as with my feminism, I always get a bit radical.

Ideas on anarchism for me came from critical pedagogy with Illich, Friere & Giroux when I did youth work training, stuff around work from David Graeber, as well as long time inspiration from Emma Goldman, the best example of a take-no-shit anarchist feminist I can think of.

The Occupy movement, with 'we are the 99%' actively pushing back against unaccountable, damaging elites was a hopeful direction for people power for me...but male violence, drugs and alcohol problems meant the camps were often unsafe for women and vulnerable people, which is not acceptable. Not that I think state police forces are the answer either with their unaccountability, criminality, racism, sexism and numerous examples of violence, often fatal against citizens.

The subsequent treatment of inspirational campaigner Helen Steel at the anarchist book fair and the Land Justice Camp over her speaking up for women's rights, has really soured the affinity I'd expect to share with anarchists... Unless they know their feminism!

This excellent piece illustrates Helen's contributions.
www.thelandmagazine.org.uk/articles/radical-intransigence-0

Heavens, this brings back memories. I belonged to my university's Anarchist Society. We disbanded after we became disillusioned at never reaching agreement on the date and time of the next meeting. Seriously.

I was a very foolish young woman.

That was a cracking article in the Land. I haven't read it recently but am going to make a point of buying it tomorrow.
I haven't got anything intelligent to add but I am loving this thread . I've distanced myself from anarchist politics in recent years, specifically because my gender critical views made me feel there's no place for me there anymore. This discussion had made me realise I am still a true anarcho-feminist at heart

Thanks all, I’m glad I asked! This is really interesting.

I’m definitely not a fan of woke. And confess to struggling with consensus based decision making when it leads to lengthy pointless meetings 😃

But I’ve always had leanings towards anarchy since I was a rebellious teenager many moons ago. And the current system hadn’t proved itself: we are still governed by precisely the wealthy male classes as in the days of old.

The event I saw was the Anarchist Feminist Book Fair. I needed to know more! I think I’ll do some reading, I’m feeling iconoclastic and drawn to a new vision in my old age!

Is it the one in Edinburgh? If so:

Transphobia Statement

Following the events of last year’s London Pride (07/07/2018), we would like to reiterate that the Edinburgh Anarchist Feminist Bookfair will be a zero-tolerance zone for expressions of transphobia.

The organisers stand in absolute solidarity with all trans people, especially the trans women and trans feminine people most targeted.

There is no place for transphobia in our feminism and in the class struggle.

We will not allow transphobic literature of any kind to be disseminated inside the bookfair, and we will not hesitate to remove individuals or groups that breach our policy.

If prior to Bookfair you have any concerns or suggestions, please feel free to contact us.

Your safety and inclusion are our priority.

On the day itself we will have a number of volunteers throughout the building who will be happy to act on any concerns you have.

In solidarity, The Edinburgh Anarchist Feminist Bookfair.

edinburghafb.org/saferspacepolicy

They also say:

Are there any groups who aren’t welcome?
Yes. Mainstream political parties, Trotskyist and Stalinist organisations and their various fronts already have lots of events of their own and we would rather they did not apply for stalls or talks at this event (though individual members are welcome to attend).

TERF – trans exclusionary radical feminist – groups such as Women’s Place are also not welcome at this event. The event will have a Safer Spaces agreement, which will be widely publicised beforehand, and will expect all who attend to abide by the agreement during the event.

edinburghafb.org/inclusion

If you're interested in Emma Goldman, there's some great reading on Project Gutenberg;
www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/840

There are some links to interviews with 70s Anarchist Feminists in this list of articles www.judygreenway.org.uk/wp/all-articles/

We disbanded after we became disillusioned at never reaching agreement on the date and time of the next meeting. Seriously.

Without wanting to derail: yes, that sounds about right. Also, location, drinks, agenda and literally anything else. And whenever you had a group dynamic going that sort of worked, some new kid would turn up and start to veto random stuff just as posturing ... good times!

Slandering WPUK. So feminist Edinburgh Anarchist book fair, you keep on centering the men in your politics.

Doesn't matter how much evidence is shown of WPUK meetings, speakers, videos, transcripts, the TE** acronym rears it's inaccurate head yet again. Can't argue with liars but fucks me off that people really believe this shit in spite of evidence to the contrary.