While going through Freddie‘s political books, zines, and pamphlets, we came across this interesting zine, undated and with no editor / publisher listed, containing Heidi Hartmann’s 1979 essay “The Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism: Towards a More Progressive Union.” There is a short essay at the front of the zine, unsigned, that I scanned because anything anarchafeminist is worth saving and celebrating.
Of course I would like to know who wrote and published it, so if you know, please tell me!
I will just type it since it’s handwritten and won’t OCR properly from my book scanner.
I have recopied this essay in pamphlet form because it contains valuable and pertinent ideas on the situation of women in any radical movement. Many of the criticisms Hartmann levels at Marxists could also be applied to many anarchists. The state is not the only form of oppression that exists, but it is conveniently faceless and obvious enough to merit more attention and credibility from many who would rather not look at their own stake in the hierarchy and how their privilege helps to preserve the status quo.
We cannot wait until “after the revolution” for rape, battering and discrimination to end. As Goldman has noted, unless addressed now, sexism will continue “ . . . long after anarchism has been established . . .”
I do not, however, agree with Hartmann’s Marxism. We will not be free, even if sexism is ended, under authoritarian socialism.
The end quote on the back page of the zine is from Emma Goldman:
It is a commentary, however, on how little theories fight inhibitions. Here you are an anarchist, firmly believing in the utmost freedom of the individual, and yet you persist in glorifying woman as the cook and breeder of large families. Do you not see the inconsistency of your claims? But the inhibitions and traditions of the male are too
deep set. I am afraid they will continue long after anarchism has been established . . .