Surmounting the barricades : women in the Paris Commune

This book vividly evokes radical women's integral roles within France's revolutionary civil war known as the Paris Commune. It demonstrates the breadth, depth, and impact of communard feminist socialisms far beyond the 1871 insurrection. Examining the period from the early 1860s through that century's end, Carolyn J. Eichner investigates how radical women developed critiques of gender, class, and religious hierarchies in the immediate pre-Commune era, how these ideologies emerged as a plurality of feminist socialisms within the revolution, and how these varied politics subsequently affected fin-de-siecle gender and class relations. She focuses on three distinctly dissimilar revolutionary women leaders who exemplify multiple competing and complementary feminist socialisms: Andre Leo, Elisabeth Dmitrieff, and Paule Mink. Leo theorized and educated through journalism and fiction, Dmitrieff organized institutional power for working-class women, and Mink agitated crowds to create an egalitarian socialist world. Each woman forged her own path to gender equality and social justice. Annotation This Book Vividly Evokes Radical Women's Integral Roles With France's Revolutionary Civil War Known As The Paris Commune. It Demonstrates The Breadth, Depth, And Impact Of Communard Feminist Socialisms Far Beyond The 1871 Insurrection. Examining The Period From The Early 1860s Through That Century's End, Carolyn J. Eichner Investigates How Radical Women Developed Critiques Of Gender, Class, And Religious Hierarchies In The Immediate Pre-commune Era, How These Ideologies Emerged As A Plurality Of Feminist Socialisms Within The Revolution, And How These Varied Politics Subsequently Affected Fin-de-siecle Gender And Class Relations. She Focuses On Three Distinctly Dissimilar Revolutionary Women Leaders Who Exemplify Multiple Competing And Complementary Feminist Socialisms: Andre Leo, Elisabeth Dmitrieff, And Paule Mink, Leo Theorized And Educated Through Journalism And Fiction. Dmitrieff Organized Institutional Power For Working-class Women, And Mink Agitated Crowds To Create An Egalitarian Socialist World. Each Woman Forged Her Own Path To Gender Equality And Social Justice. Part I. Before -- 1. The Actors And The Action -- 2. Politics And Ideas: Staging The Struggle -- Part Ii. During -- 3. Elisabeth Dmitrieff And The Union Des Femmes: Revolutionizing Women's Labor -- 4. André Léo And The Subversion Of Gender: The Battle Over Women's Place -- 5. Paule Mink And The Clubistes: Anti-clericalism And Popular Revolution -- Part Iii. After -- 6. Dmitrieff And Léo In The Aftermath: Radical Denouement -- 7. Mink In The Aftermath: The Red Flag And The Future. Carolyn J. Eichner. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [255]-271) And Index.

This book vividly evokes radical women's integral roles within France's
revolutionary civil war known as the Paris Commune. It demonstrates the breadth,
depth, and impact of communard feminist socialisms far beyond the 1871 insurrection.
Examining the period from the early 1860s through that century's end, Carolyn J.
Eichner investigates how radical women developed critiques of gender, class, and
religious hierarchies in the immediate pre-Commune era, how these ideologies emerged
as a plurality of feminist socialisms within the revolution, and how these varied
politics subsequently affected fin-de-sià ̈cle gender and class relations. She
focuses on three distinctly dissimilar revolutionary women leaders who exemplify
multiple competing and complementary feminist socialisms: Andre Leo, Elisabeth
Dmitrieff, and Paule Mink. Leo theorized and educated through journalism and
fiction, Dmitrieff organized institutional power for working-class women, and Mink
agitated crowds to create an egalitarian socialist world. Each woman forged her own
path to gender equality and social justice.