The Possibility of Socialist Feminism: Here and There, 1970s – 1990s

Year: 
2016
Recipient Name: 
Alexandria Greenhold
Faculty Mentor Name: 
Marie Skoczylas
Librarian / Archivist: 
Edward Galloway
David Grinnell
Description: 
Socialist movements traditionally focus on means of production and distribution of wealth. The accomplishment of these tasks, however, relies on the deconstruction of hierarchical relationships, the abolition of the class system, and acknowledgement of the value of paid and unpaid labor by all members of society. Therefore, socialism and feminism can go hand in hand in many ways, as feminists seek to dismantle hierarchies of class, race, gender, and sexuality in order to create an equal and just society. In this study, I conducted a rhetorical analysis of literature (meeting minutes, newsletters, pamphlets, fliers, and booklets) written by various local and national socialist and feminist organizations in order to critique their strategies for political reform and disruption. For a comparative analysis, I looked at Sweden – another capitalist country with a notably different political system – to see how women and feminists played a part in the Social Democratic Party and to analyze the success of their welfare reforms. Through this research, one can understand how the past influences the present and hopefully, how the future can progress in the right direction.
Photo: 
David Grinnell with Alexandria Greenhold standing in front of her poster