The Price of Progressive Politics : The Welfare Rights Movement in an Era of Colorblind Racism

Through the voices of women activists in the welfare rights movement across the United States, The Price of Progressive Politics exposes the contemporary reality of welfare rights politics, revealing how the language of colorblind racism undermines this multiracial movement. Through in-depth interviews with activists in eight organizations across the United States, Rose Ernst presents an intersectional analysis of how these activists understand the complexities of race, class and gender and how such understandings have affected their approach to their grassroots work. Engaging and accessible, The Price of Progressive Politics offers a refreshing examination of how those working for change grapple with shifting racial dynamics in the United States, arguing that organizations that fail to develop a consciousness that reflects the reality of multiple marginalized identities ultimately reproduce the societal dynamics they seek to change. "In this important and courageous book, Rose Ernst shows how the discourse of colorblindness limits the progressive possibilities of the welfare rights movement. One must know the monster one is fighting if one wishes to slay it for real.' Otherwise, as Ernst's data demonstrates, one ends up feeding the monster. Bravo for a job well done!" - Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Racism without Racists '"Ernst has provided an amazing window into contemporary welfare organizing and the challenges faced in a political context that urges unitary rather than intersectional frames of social justice. Without a doubt she has provided an important book relevant to scholars and welfare organizers alike."- Ange-Marie Hancock Social justice activists in the United States face an increasingly difficult how do they fight policies based on damaging images of race, class and gender identities in an era of "colorblind" racism? Through the voices of women activists in the welfare rights movement across the United States, The Price of Progressive Politics exposes the contemporary reality of welfare rights politics, revealing how the language of colorblind racism undermines this multiracial movement. Rose Ernst argues that although many activists are well-meaning and truly committed, they nonetheless find themselves reproducing many of the same racial and gender biases that they are trying to fight against. Through forty-nine in-depth interviews with activists in eight organizations across the United States, Ernst presents an intersectional analysis of how these activists understand the complexities of race, class and gender and how such understandings have affected their approach to their grassroots work. The vibrant stories of these welfare rights activists from around the country reveal the volatile issues of race and class that underlie the deep complexities and contradictions of grassroots organizing, and the tensions which are often heightened by the language of color-blind racism. Engaging and accessible, The Price of Progressive Politics offers a refreshing examination of how those working for change grapple with shifting racial dynamics in the United States, arguing that organizations that fail to develop a consciousness that reflects the reality of multiple marginalized identities ultimately reproduce the societal dynamics they seek to change. Social justice activists in the United States face an increasingly difficult task: how do they fight policies based on damaging images of race, class and gender identities in an era of colorblind racism? Through the voices of women activists in the welfare rights movement across the United States, The Price of Progressive Politics exposes the contemporary reality of welfare rights politics, revealing how the language of colorblind racism undermines this multiracial movement. Rose Ernst argues that although many activists are well-meaning and truly committed, they nonetheless find themselves reproducing many of the same racial and gender biases that they are trying to fight against. Through forty-nine in-depth interviews with activists in eight organizations across the United States, Ernst presents an intersectional analysis of how these activists understand the complexities of race, class and gender and how such understandings have affected their approach to their grassroots work. The vibrant stories of these welfare rights activists from around the country reveal the volatile issues of race and class that underlie the deep complexities and contradictions of grassroots organizing, and the tensions which are often heightened by the language of color-blind racism. Engaging and accessible, The Price of Progressive Politics offers a refreshing examination of how those working for change grapple with shifting racial dynamics in the United States, arguing that organizations that fail to develop a consciousness that reflects the reality of multiple marginalized identities ultimately reproduce the societal dynamics they seek to change Exposes The Contemporary Reality Of Welfare Rights Politics, Revealing How The Language Of Colorblind Racism Undermines This Multiracial Movement. Ernst Argues That Although Many Activists Are Well-meaning And Truly Committed, They Nonetheless Find Themselves Reproducing Many Of The Same Racial And Gender Biases That They Are Trying To Fight Against. She Presents An Intersectional Analysis Of How These Activists Understand The Complexities Of Race, Class And Gender And How Such Understandings Have Affected Their Approach To Their Grassroots Work. From Publisher Description. Introduction -- To Each Her Own: Race And Class In Gendered Coalitions -- Closing Rank: Power And Colorblindness -- Pulling Rank: Gender And Class Colorblindness -- Breaking Rank: Race And Class Consciousness -- Crossing Over: Rethinking Movement Organization -- Critical Alliances: Intersecting National Coalitions. Rose Ernst. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In this groundbreaking work, feminist legal theorist Nancy E. Dowd exhorts readers to apply the anti-essentialist model so dominant in feminist jurisprudence to the study of masculinities. She demonstrates how men's treatment by the law and society in general varies by race, economic position, sexuality, and other factors. She applies these insights to both boys and men, looking at men's experience of fatherhood and sexual abuse and boys' experience in the contexts of education and juvenile justice, to examine how masculinities analysis exposes both privilege and subordination. Ultimately, Dowd calls for a more inclusive feminist theory, which, by acknowledging the study of masculinities, can broaden our understanding of privilege and subordination. --Book Jacket Among the many important tools feminist legal theorists have given scholars is that of anti-essentialism: all women are not created equal, and privilege varies greatly by circumstances, particularly that of race and class. Yet at the same time, feminist legal theory tends to view men through an essentialist lens, in which men are created equal. The study of masculinities, inspired by feminist theory to explore the construction of manhood and masculinity, questions the real circumstances of men, not in order to deny men's privilege but to explore in particular how privilege is constructed, and what price is paid for it "In this thought-provoking and illuminating book, Nancy Dowd shows how contemporary research on masculinities, men, and boys, combined with feminist gender analysis, can change the way we think about issues ranging from criminal justice to sexual abuse in families. Clear, well-researched, and unflinching, this is a model of engaged scholarship on important issues."--Raewyn Connell, author of Masculinities "What a superb book! From school to prison to fatherhood, Nancy Dowd has given us the most wide-ranging and astute assessment of masculinity in and through the law. Theoretically grounded, analytically engaging and elegantly written, Dowd raises the 'man question' and gives the reader the tools to begin to answer that question."--Michael Kimmel, author of Manhood in America "A powerful book. Nancy Dowd offers a novel and sweeping integration of feminism and masculinities theory. Her ideas about how to recognize gender asymmetries, understand 'male' work codes, and unravel prescribed social roles offer hope for changing workplace and educational cultures toward gender equality."--Nancy Levit, co-author of Feminist Legal Theory: A Primer