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.
Innehållsförteckning
1 The sex/gender distinction and the language of sexual violence
2 Sexism and patriarchy
3 Intersectionality: a dry word that can make a lot of sense
4 Trans women and feminism: thinking beyond binaries
5 We need to talk about capitalism
6 Liberalism, neoliberalism and feminism: contradictions and concerns
7 Marxist feminism: reframing the issues
8 Why feminists should logically be socialists (and vice versa)
Conclusions
Index
Om författaren
Valerie Bryson is Professor of Politics at the University of Huddersfield