Women in the Movement

I have been politically active for nearly a decade. Over the course of the years, I’ve been a member of several leftist organizations-ranging from Leninist parties to groups structured around anarchist principles. Despite some fundamental differences in political ideology and strategy, the roles of women in these organizations remain eerily similar: women are reduced to tokenism. Women are largely underrepresented in leftist organizations-a problem seldom addressed by male comrades. Even more problematic is that women who choose to participate in leftist groups often find themselves channeled into designated roles as “caretakers” or “poster girls.”

Despite progressive rhetoric, the hierarchical nature of the relationships between men and women in most organizations mirror those found in broader society. Specific campaigns to recruit women are seldom employed. Issues pertaining to women are almost never discussed, and the sexist attitudes and behaviors of male comrades are frequently dismissed as nonproblematic. These practices, intentional or not, send a message to women: you are not wanted in our “gentlemen’s club.”

Women in leftist organizations often find themselves reduced to specific roles with little or no influence. We are either “caretakers” or “poster girls.” As caretakers, women manage the “chores” of the organization. By default, women routinely take on secretarial duties, including making food and buying supplies for group functions. If childcare is offered at an event, it is the women who are expected to provide the care.

As “poster girls,” women are assigned the role of representing the group in public and at internal meetings. This practice serves to elude; it presents the false appearance that women are respected leaders within an organization. Yet despite its immediate appearance, the role of a “poster girl” is not one of influence. Women in these roles are frequently asked to recite scripts handed down to them by male comrades in authority. If a woman is requested to participate in a discussion at a conference or public forum, she is asked to speak about her “experience;” whereas male comrades are assigned the role of educators-teaching others about theory and the historical struggles of the working class.

Female comrades routinely find themselves at odds with male members in the group. Suggestions by women are taken less seriously than those from males, and it requires more persuasion to have their ideas accepted. On several occasions I have witnessed male comrades dismiss the opinions of females in the group. Furthermore, female comrades fail to receive recognition for their organizing skills and strategic planning. Since men are perceived as the visionaries, innovators, and leaders, women seldom get credit for their achievements and contributions.

Where does this leave female activists? It leaves us feeling angry and resentful. We join leftist organizations because we understand inequity and want systemic change-not just for women, but for all people. How can the radical left challenge the state and its repressive forces when there is disunity among comrades in the struggle? How can we expect egalitarian, cooperative relationships to form when the radical left is merely a reflection of the current bourgeois system? We can not. Let us not delude ourselves into thinking that we can be a revolutionary force without first addressing the inequity in our own community.

Patriarchy: A Woman's View

The working out of a morality within the aware masses..comes to strengthen the structure of revolutionary ideology and to bring an important contribution to the preparation of a new culture, at the same time as it totally repudiates the culture of the bourgeoisie.   - Manifesto of Libertarian Communism

For years I thought I had it all figured out: I was a woman living in a world designed by men for men. Yet it was only recently that I learned this ugly truth: I have only just begun to understand the level of my own oppression. Every woman is a victim of patriarchy-in some form or another. Patriarchy is a salient feature of society, yet it’s often so subtle that many women do not realize the extent of their own victimization. Men too often fail to recognize their own sexist beliefs and behaviors. The simple gaze at a woman’s breast is enough to send a message to her: you are an object of desire.

So what is patriarchy and how is it manifested in society? The question does not have a simple answer. Patriarchy can be described as a hierarchical system in which men have power and control over the social, political, and economic domains of society. The manifestations of patriarchy are far more complex and often difficult to identify. Since both men and women have been socialized in the same manner, the dynamics of oppression are interwoven and layered deep into fabric of society. Women’s oppression is so ingrained in the human consciousness that we often lack the tools to recognize its forces.

Women have been socialized to meet the needs of men. We are told to remain beautiful at all times. To be thin; to do whatever it takes to ward off winkles and signs of aging. We spend hours at the hair salon; hundreds of dollars on the best clothes and shoes, and undergo the most painful cosmetic treatments-all in attempt to impress the opposite sex. If we fail to maintain our youthful, beautiful appearance, we are deemed undesirable. We are taught from childhood to want a husband, a home, and children. Unfortunately, those who remain unwed and/or childless, run the risk of being ostracized and condemned for their “radical” choices.  From youth, women are socialized to be less than; we are the weaker, meeker sex. And by and large, women have come to accept this as truth.

So why do we continue to perpetuate our own oppression? There are a variety of theories describing the forces of power and control. Conflict theory is the most widely accepted theory examining macro level conflict. According to this theory, groups in society are arranged according to a social, political, and economic hierarchy. The dominant group maintains power and control through a variety of means, including overt and covert forms of oppression (i.e. through the formulation of stereotypes).

“Minority group collusion” is a phenomenon that defines how disenfranchised groups internalize messages given to them by dominant groups. These messages become truths, and minority groups often fail to recognize their devastating impact. These “truths” serve a purpose: they create in-fighting and allow the dominate group to maintain social, economic, and political control.

Patriarchy and sexism go hand in hand. Sexism is a belief system that has been developed by the dominant group to perpetuate inequality. Both men and women are socialized with sexist beliefs and behaviors. Every man and woman has had a sexist thought or engaged in a sexist manner. Women are the primary victims of sexism. Like previously mentioned, sexism serves a purpose-consciously or unconsciously. Does this mean all men seek to dominate and oppress women? No. Patriarchy has existed since the development of civilization. Its foundations have long been established. To blame men exclusively fails to address the structural foundations that created patriarchy to begin with. In order to achieve a truly non-hierarchical society, the fight to end patriarchy needs to be concurrent with the abolishment of the system that perpetuates power and control.

Does this mean we ignore male chauvinism and focus solely on changing the structure that perpetuates patriarchy and sexism? No. Patriarchal forces are present in every facet of society: relationships, families, communities, and social movements. On a micro level, we need to actively identify and correct sexist attitudes and behaviors. Men need to be held accountable, while women need to remain cognizant about perpetuating their own oppression. Learning to identify and address sexism in our daily lives will help us develop the tools necessary to change current conditions.