Radical Feminism

From Hobson's Choice

this article is under construction

A current of feminist ideology that bases its critique of social relations on the preeminence of men per se.

1 Connotations of the Phrase
2 Notes
3 See Also
4 External Links

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Connotations of the Phrase

The term "feminism" has arguably become a pejorative one, implying an embittered and joyless woman with an active hatred of beauty.^[1] Likewise, the term "radical" is used carelessly by people of all political persuasions to imply "dangerously extreme" or "mentally unhinged." In combination, "radical feminism" implies an extreme alienation from normal social relations. Some interpretations of radical feminism analogize it to Marxism,^[2] or to anarchism,^[3] in the sense that radical feminism seeks to smash an inherently reform-proof institution, viz., patriarchy.

Socialist feminism tries to bring together the best of Radical feminism and a class analysis of women's exploitation, arguing that both class stratification (i.e. capitalism) and patriarchy must be eliminated in order for women to be truly free. Anarchist feminism, in its very small ranks, stands near this perspective, but furthers the socialist critique by pointing to the State (as a culmination of hierarchy and authoritarianism) as a third "tier" of oppression. It is our job to trace the exact nature of how Patriarchy, Capitalism, and the State interact to cause the various oppressions we want to overthrow. In a broad sense anarchist feminism is the critique of domination in all its forms, similar to the analysis offered by "multicultural feminism," but with a clear anti-capitalist and anti-statist position. In this way 'Re-defining Radical Feminism' is emphasizing what is already that broad anarchist position: that revolutionary praxis "must be focused on the eradication of domination."

Please note that this is an analogy; radical feminism may, or (most likely) may not, embrace the [economic side of the] hard left.

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Notes

↑ Janet K. Boles & Diane Long Hoeveler, Historical Dictionary of Feminism, Scarecrow Press (2004), p.126; Boles & Hoeveler's entry for "feminism" consists simply of the instruction, "see battered word syndrome." See also entry for "feminazi." See also the excellent essay, "'I'm not a feminist, but...'"
↑ Catharine A. MacKinnon, "Feminism, Marxism, method and the state: an Agenda for Theory" , Signs, Vol. 7, No. 3. (Spring, 1982), pp. 515-544. MacKinnon analogizes heterosexuality to capitalism (516) and generalizes that Marxism and [radical] feminism are inherently at odds (517 & 518).
↑ Red Sonja "The Precarious Union of Anarchism and Feminism," NEFAC-Boston (25 Oct 2002).