Posted: January 23rd, 2024

The Influence of Socialist Feminists on the Establishment of the Declaration of Women’s Rights

The Influence of Socialist Feminists on the Establishment of the Declaration of Women’s Rights

The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen, written by Olympe de Gouges in 1791, is one of the earliest documents that advocated for women’s rights and equality in the aftermath of the French Revolution. However, this declaration was not an isolated event, but rather a product of a long history of socialist feminist movements that challenged the patriarchal and capitalist structures of society.

Socialist feminism is a branch of feminism that links the oppression of women to the exploitation of workers under capitalism. Socialist feminists believe that women’s liberation must be sought in conjunction with the social and economic justice of all people. They see the fight to end male supremacy as key to social justice, but not the only issue, rather one of many forms of oppression that are mutually reinforcing .

The origins of socialist feminism can be traced back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when women participated in various revolutionary movements that aimed to overthrow feudalism, colonialism, and slavery. Some of these women were influenced by the writings of utopian socialists such as Charles Fourier, who envisioned a harmonious society based on cooperation and equality between the sexes. Fourier’s ideas inspired a group of women in France, known as the Saint-Simonians, who advocated for women’s education, emancipation, and participation in public affairs .

Another influential figure in the early history of socialist feminism was Flora Tristan, a French activist and writer who traveled across Europe and Latin America to promote workers’ rights and women’s rights. She argued that the emancipation of women was essential for the emancipation of the working class, and that both groups should unite in a universal association to achieve social transformation. She also denounced the oppression of women in marriage and called for their sexual freedom and reproductive rights .

The most radical expression of socialist feminism in the 19th century was the Paris Commune of 1871, a brief period of revolutionary rule by the working class in France. The Commune was supported by many women who organized themselves into clubs, associations, and militias to defend their rights and interests. Some of these women were members of the International Workingmen’s Association (also known as the First International), which was founded in 1864 by Karl Marx and other socialist leaders. The First International recognized the importance of women’s participation in the labor movement and supported their demands for equal pay, education, and suffrage .

However, not all socialists were supportive of women’s rights. Some argued that women’s issues were secondary to class struggle and that feminism was a bourgeois ideology that distracted from the real enemy: capitalism. Others feared that granting women equal rights would undermine the traditional family and weaken the solidarity of the working class. These tensions led to divisions within the socialist movement and among feminist activists .

One of the most prominent socialist feminists who challenged these views was Clara Zetkin, a German activist and leader of the Women’s Bureau of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Zetkin organized the first International Women’s Day in 1910, which aimed to mobilize women workers around the world for their rights and for peace. She also advocated for women’s reproductive rights, sexual freedom, and access to public services such as health care and child care. She argued that socialism was not only a political and economic system, but also a cultural and moral one that required the liberation of women from all forms of oppression .

Zetkin was also involved in the formation of the Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF) in 1945, which was one of the largest and most influential organizations of socialist feminist internationalism during
the Cold War. The WIDF brought together women from different countries and political backgrounds to fight against fascism, imperialism, racism, and sexism. The WIDF supported various struggles for national liberation, social justice, and human rights around the world, such as the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, the decolonization wars in Africa and Asia, and the UN Decade for Women (1976-1985) .

The legacy of socialist feminism is still relevant today, as many feminists continue to challenge the interlocking systems of oppression that affect women’s lives. Socialist feminists have contributed to various fields of knowledge and action, such as labor studies, environmental studies, peace studies, queer studies, and intersectional studies. They have also inspired new forms of activism and solidarity among women across borders, cultures, and identities.

References:

: https://www.coe.int/en/web/gender-matters/feminism-and-women-s-rights-movements
: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-review-of-social-history/article/womens-rights-and-global-socialism-gendering-socialist-internationalism-during-the-cold-war/76CF00C96D47D9AFBFF31D2BE576BAB6
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_feminism
: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_the_Rights_of_Woman_and_of_the_Female_Citizen