Red Feminism: American Communism and the Making of Women's Liberation

Rating:
Summary: Much needed piece of history
Review: This is a well-documented, even-handed account of the influence American communism had on the second wave of the women's movement. Weigand is thoroughly convincing in her assertation that in the 30s, 40s and 50s, the American Communist Party began an important dialogue on sexism, culture, the politics of everyday life and the intersectionality of race, class and gender that carried into the rise of the second wave in the 1960s (and indeed into today). Weigand takes on the notion that feminists in the 1960s had no foremothers (and fathers) to draw from. Instead she argues that young feminists had a sizable collection of literature analyzing gender relations, many of them grew up in families modeled on gender equality and that young feminists interacted with women who had been key in Communist discussions on sexism. What I really like about this book is that it reminds us of how long the struggle for equality has been and (as the author says) how we still grapple with these issues. A very important book for any one who cares about the past, present and future of gender equality in this society. I am recommending it to all my friends.