Anarcha-feminism (20TH CENTURY)

Anarchism extended to take account of the oppression of women.

Of all forms of coercion and authority, that based on sex is the most fundamental and the most oppressive. The liberation of women requires the ending of all forms of oppression, but must strike at the root of male oppression or patriarchy, which is both a form of exploitation in its own right, and one which pervades most other coercive and authority relationships.

Source:
H J Ehrlich, ed., Reinventing Anarchy: What Are Anarchists Thinking These Days? (London, 1979)

Anarcha-feminism, also referred to as anarchist feminism or feminist anarchism, combines anarchism with feminism. Anarcha-feminism generally posits that patriarchy and traditional gender roles as manifestations of involuntary coercive hierarchy should be replaced by decentralized free association. Anarcha-feminists believe that the struggle against patriarchy is an essential part of class conflict and the anarchist struggle against the state and capitalism. In essence, the philosophy sees anarchist struggle as a necessary component of feminist struggle and vice versa. L. Susan Brown claims that “as anarchism is a political philosophy that opposes all relationships of power, it is inherently feminist”.[1]

Anarcha-feminism is an anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist, anti-oppressive philosophy, with the goal of creating an “equal ground” between the genders. Anarcha-feminism suggests the social freedom and liberty of women without needed dependence upon other groups or parties.

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