Marxist feminism wants to liberate women by overthrowing capitalism. They feel that the root problem between men and women is the inequality that is caused by private property, which in turn leads to political confusion, dependence, unhealthy social relationships and economic inequality.

Engels and Gender Oppression

Engels wrote the Origins of the Family, Private Property and the State, in which he analyzes gender oppression as being not a biological predisposition but of the complex system of family institutions in which men are the leaders and women are the subordinates.

Marxist Feminism and the Class System

Marxism is based on oppression of the working class by the upper class. The Marxist Feminism movement sees women as a whole as a class that is oppressed by the dominant male class. Their belief is that the enslavement of women was the building block of the economic system that is based on private property (capitalism).

Marxist Feminism and Prostitution

Using Marxism as the basis of their beliefs, Marxist feminists feel that any work that includes being paid a wage is equal to enslavement and a form of oppression. Prostitution is, in essence, labor and hence falls under the corruption of wage labor following Marxist feminism ideologies. In fact, prostitution is seen as the symbol of everything that is wrong with society. Not only is it oppressive and enslavement due to it being paid labor, but it is a complete domination of women by men.

However, some Marxist feminists disagree with this notion and see prostitutes not as wage slaves but as independent contractors. A prostitute can choose to see her body and sex as a commodity rather than a part of herself. Following the beliefs of philosopher Robert Nozick, a person’s rights predominate over anything else. Hence, a person has the right to choose to sell themselves into slavery or prostitution, so long as this decision is made by themselves with a clear mind.

How Marxist Feminism Has Been Criticized

One of the main criticisms of Marxist feminism is that the original Marxist theory did not explore gender inequalities. Although its political ideologies may be correct, these should not be applied to men and women as classes. Marxist feminism was also criticized by radical feminism, who felt that the issue lies in society being of a patriarchal nature and that capitalism is an institution created by men, which is the root of the problem, rather than capitalism in its own right being the issue. It is also felt by some that feminism is in essence a bourgeois movement, and the bourgeois class is exactly what Marxism tries to overthrow.

In conclusion, Marxist feminism basically coins the doctrines of Karl Marx by describing men and women as classes comparable to the bourgeois and proletariat as described in Marx’ teachings. However, many question whether this is applicable as Marx’ teaching never analyzed gender differences either on their own or as part of the bourgeois versus proletariat debate. Furthermore, the validity of the movement is questioned by many as the feminist movement is largely seen as a bourgeois concept.

Feminism initially started to allow women the right to vote and to run for office. Once this was achieved, the cause behind feminism slightly changed, including Marxist feminism (where women are seen as a class that needs to rise up) and radical feminism (which wants to overthrow patriarchal societies). Feminist movements have thought for the rights to take birth control and for the right to abortions for example. Most recently, feministic movements are campaigning for equal pay for equal work. The main criticism of feministic movements, however, is that members are often white women in the middle class of society, who have the means to fight for specific injustices but do not look at groups in societies who are otherwise marginalized, such as black women.

The Black Women Feminist Movement

Black women often experience far higher levels of oppression than white women in the middle class of society. They argue that they have to deal with sexism, racism and class oppression. The black women feminist movement is better known as Womanism.

Womanism

Womanism was started by Alice Walker and in 1974 felt that if black women were liberated, this would mean there would be an end to all forms of oppression. Black women have struggled to be recognized not only by men, but also by other western feminists. The three issues that they were facing are:

• Proving to black women feminism is not purely for white women
• Convincing white women to share power with black women
• Fighting the misogynistic inclinations of Black Nationalism

Famous Black Women Feminist Movement Organizations

• The National Black Feminist Organization who fought against the many injustices that black women face, including racism, sexism, homophobia and classicism
• The Combahee River Collective was a primarily black lesbian organization. Many criticized them as being brain washed by man hating feminist organizations (particularly the liberal feminist movement). They worked very hard in creating battered women shelters and in supporting the reproductive rights movement

Famous Black Feminists

Some famous black feminists are:

• Mary Ann Weathers, who authored An Argument for Black Women’s Liberation as a Revolutionary Force
• Florynce Kennedy, author and civil rights lawyer and co-author of Abortion’s Rap
• Cellestine Ware, member of New York’s Stanton-Anthony Brigade
• Patricia Robinson
• Angela Davis, who demonstrated many black women were subjected to compulsory sterilization programs whilst white women who did not want children were not allowed to use birth control
• Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple
• Oprah Winfrey, journalist, TV host and producer

In short, the black women feminist movement is a movement that became necessary to ensure that existing feminist movements were complimented by being forced to look at women across all of society, not just white middle class. Black women have had to struggle with far more than sexism, including racism and classicism. Life for a black women would be made even more difficult if she was also a lesbian. The black women feminist movement has really achieved many important steps for women across the world, not just those of black origin.

Feminism, regardless of its face or how it is expressed is primarily about the promotion and establishment of women’s rights. Feminists, whether they are female or even male, are essentially interested in promoting the right of women to equality, whether that equality is political, social, spiritual or physical.

The American Feminist Movement

The discussion about women’s issues and rights is not new and has been part of human dialogue for thousands of years. During the post industrial revolution however, it came into sharp focus as women struggled against a patriarchal society that publically declared that women were “non persons”. As women debated their right to education, careers and the right to vote, feminist movements evolved around the world to provide solidarity and unity to their cause.

Different countries moved at different speeds in revising and amending public policies as they pertained to women. Even within those countries that awarded limited rights to some women, the movements were initially most successful amongst middle class Caucasian women from the industrialized nations. Women from poorer social economic groups and those from non-Caucasian backgrounds had to wait a lot longer for the same rights to be afforded to them.

However despite the early successes, it would be as late as the mid 20th century before real change was seen in the way women’s issues and rights were viewed and legislated. As the hippy generation of the mid 60’s embraced feminism, so also did movements such as the American Feminist Movement find their popularity with an increase in numbers and a strengthened political weighting.

Effect of the 19th Amendment of the Constitution on the American Feminist Movement

A major victory was scored for the suffragette movement in the USA when in 1919 the US Government passed the 19th Amendment of the Constitution which officially recognized the right of women to vote. This was the final phase in what has been called the first wave of feminism in the USA and around the world which primarily focused on women’s equal rights in owning property and marriage. Many of the women who had been influential in campaigning for these rights had been involved in the campaigns against slavery in the 1800’s and so were already household names in the USA when they turned their attention to women’s rights.

Following the passing of the 19th Amendment, the focus of the American Feminist movement turned to issues of discrimination in public places including workplaces and society in general. Some have suggested that the civil rights movements and the women’s rights movements of this era drew strength and support from each other as each shared similar concerns on similar issues.

This continues to be the focus of most feminist groups today in American Feminism, however increasingly, attention is turning to what has been called a third wave feminist movement which focuses on issues relating to all women, rather than the more public issues that relate to certain socio-economic groups.

The American Feminist Movement Today

Although women associate with the American Feminist Movement for many reasons today, there is a general theme that is pervading the movement. Gender equality issues are now expressed in campaigns for religious, racial and socio economic rights.