The Women’s Liberation Movement and the Politics of Class in Britain

This is the first study of the British Women's Liberation Movement's relationship with class politics. It explores the meaning of class to women's liberationists' identities and activism, both nationally and regionally, using a previously neglected feminist cluster in North East England as a case study. Stevenson demonstrates that British feminism was shaped fundamentally by its relationship to, synthesis with, and rejection of class politics. Through these processes, feminists recognised how post-war changes in the economy and gender roles were reshaping class and the Women's Liberation Movement attempted to remake class politics in response. However, socio-economic and cultural class differences between the women involved - linked to occupation, education and background - remained intractable obstacles causing tensions within groups, fragmentations into specific class-based groups and the ultimate failure of the movement to coalesce into a coherent coalition with labour politics, despite great levels of solidarity around particular struggles. Examining regional feminism against the national backdrop, __The Women's Liberation Movement and the Politics of Class in Britain__ provides an engaging exploration of the fruitful but challenging relationship between British feminism and class politics in a capitalist society. "This is the first study of the British Women's Liberation Movement's relationship with class politics. It explores the meaning of class to women's liberationists' identities and activism, both nationally and regionally, using a previously neglected feminist cluster in North East England as a case study. Stevenson demonstrates that British feminism was shaped fundamentally by its relationship to, synthesis with, and rejection of class politics. Through these processes, feminists recognised how post-war changes in the economy and gender roles were reshaping class and the Women's Liberation Movement attempted to remake class politics in response. However, socio-economic and cultural class differences between the women involved - linked to occupation, education and background - remained intractable obstacles causing tensions within groups, fragmentations into specific class-based groups and the ultimate failure of the movement to coalesce into a coherent coalition with labour politics, despite great levels of solidarity around particular struggles. Examining regional feminism against the national backdrop, The Women's Liberation Movement and the Politics of Class in Britain provides an engaging exploration of the fruitful but challenging relationship between British feminism and class politics in a capitalist society."--Bloomsbury Publishing. This Is The First Study Of The British Women's Liberation Movement's Relationship With Class Politics. It Explores The Meaning Of Class To Women's Liberationists' Identities And Activism, Both Nationally And Regionally, Using A Previously Neglected Feminist Cluster In North East England As A Case Study. Stevenson Demonstrates That British Feminism Was Shaped Fundamentally By Its Relationship To, Synthesis With, And Rejection Of Class Politics. Through These Processes, Feminists Recognised How Post-war Changes In The Economy And Gender Roles Were Reshaping Class And The Women's Liberation Movement Attempted To Remake Class Politics In Response. However, Socio-economic And Cultural Class Differences Between The Women Involved - Linked To Occupation, Education And Background - Remained Intractable Obstacles Causing Tensions Within Groups, Fragmentations Into Specific Class-based Groups And The Ultimate Failure Of The Movement To Coalesce Into A Coherent Coalition With Labour Politics, Despite Great Levels Of Solidarity Around Particular Struggles. Examining Regional Feminism Against The National Backdrop, The Women's Liberation Movement And The Politics Of Class In Britain Provides An Engaging Exploration Of The Fruitful But Challenging Relationship Between British Feminism And Class Politics In A Capitalist Society. George Stevenson. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Contents Illustrations Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1 Introduction ‘Difference’ and the historiography of the WLM Class analysis and gender The national and regional context Oral history and the Women’s Movement Book outline 2 Women’s Liberation and Class Politics The case for ‘rejection’ The politics of ‘dual militancy’ Conclusions 3 Women Workers in the 1970s Women, work and the trade unions ‘Defensive’ industrial action Equal pay and the meaning of ‘political strikes’ The nature of women’s industrial action Trade union culture Conclusions 4 Class Struggle in the Reproductive Sphere Feminism, wages for housework and working-class women Feminism and community action Conclusions 5 Struggling with ‘Sisterhood’ Class interaction in the WLM Undermining ‘sisterhood’ The power of ‘sisterhood’ Conclusions 6 Class, Autobiography and Collective Memory Sisterhood and the movement in autobiographical narratives Class in feminist life histories Conclusions 7 Conclusion Rethinking the WLM, women and class in modern British history Notes 1 Introduction 2 Women’s Liberation and Class Politics 3 Women Workers in the 1970s 4 Class Struggle in the Reproductive Sphere 5 Struggling with ‘Sisterhood’ 6 Class, Autobiography and Collective Memory 7 Conclusion Bibliography Index