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Title: Anarcha-Feminism Author: Deirdre Hogan Date: January 2004 Language: en Topics: anarcha-feminism, Workers Solidarity Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20151001013304/http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/wsm/ws/2004/79/thinking.html Notes: Originally published in Workers Solidarity No79
An important principle of anarchism and one that more than any other
differentiates it from other types of socialism is its emphasis on
freedom and non-hierarchical social relations. Central to anarchism is
the rejection of any power hierarchy between men and women. Anarchists
believe that the liberty of one is based on the liberty of all and so
there can be no true anarchist society without an end to all existing
structures of domination and exploitation, including naturally the
oppression of women.
As anarchists we believe that the means determines the end. This means
that we do not wait for some future revolution to tackle the problems of
sexism but instead see that it is important to struggle against it in
the here and now. As anarchists we strive to ensure that both our own
organisations and also those campaigns we are involved in are free from
sexism and power-hierarchies and that all members have equal
decision-making power.
We recognise that the full participation of women within the anarchist
movement and social struggles of today is very important. In order to
shape the future society women must be involved in its creation and, of
course, without the participation of half of the population there will
be no social revolution. Just as we believe the emancipation of the
working class is the task of the working class themselves, we also see
that, essentially, women's development, freedom and independence must
come from themselves. Becoming involved in political struggle is in
itself an act of empowerment. Many women in today's society do not
believe that they could have a role in fundamentally changing things.
However by getting involved, by assuming our place - agitating,
educating and organising- we begin to take control of our own lives in
the process of actively fighting to change the unjust society in which
we live.
Only in an anarchist society will the basis for the oppression of women
cease to exist. This is because women, due to their reproductive role,
will always be more vulnerable than men in capitalist society which is
based on the need to maximise profit. Abortion rights, paid maternity
leave, crèche and childcare facilities etc., in short everything that
would be necessary to ensure the economic equality of women under
capitalism, will always be especially relevant to women. Because of
this, women are generally viewed as being less economical than men to
employ and are more susceptible to attacks on gains such as crèche
facilities etc.
Also, women cannot be free until they have full control over their own
bodies. Yet under capitalism, abortion rights are never guaranteed. Even
if gains are made in this area they can be attacked, as happens with
abortion rights in the USA. The oppression of women under capitalism has
thus an econom-ic and sexual basis. From these root causes of women's
oppression, stem other forms of oppression like, for example, the
ideological oppression of women, violence against women etc. That is not
to say that sexist ideas will just disappear with the end of capitalism,
but rather only with the end of capitalism can we rid society of an
institutional bias that contin-ues to propagate and encourage sexism.
As an anarchist society will not be driven by profit, there, for
example, will be no eco-nomic penalty for having children or wanting to
spend more time with them. Childcare, housework etc., can be seen as the
respon-sibility of the whole of society and thus give women and men more
options in general.
Anarchism/Anarcha-feminism* joins the fight against class exploitation
and that against women's oppression together. True freedom, both for
women and men, can only come about in a classless society, where
workplaces are self-managed, private property is abolished and the
people who make decisions are those affected by them.
Clearly the struggle for women's freedom requires a class struggle by
the workers. And in turn, the class struggle can only be successful if
it is at the same time a struggle against women's oppression.