This document, authored by Celia Sojourn, a member of the Weather Underground—a radical Marxist militant group active in the United States from 1969 to 1977—argues that the “women’s question” is inherently tied to class struggle. Sojourn emphasizes that women’s oppression cannot be understood in isolation, as it is deeply intertwined with their social class and economic status, and must be addressed as part of a broader fight against class inequality. Her argument underscores the intersectionality of oppression, where gender, race, and class intersect to create distinct experiences of inequality. Sojourn asserts that true liberation for women can only be achieved through a revolution that dismantles class society and establishes socialism. She advocates for the creation of class-conscious women’s organizations, the education of women to understand who their “real enemies” are, and calls for militant action to bring about the societal transformation she envisions.
intersectionality
The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism (Audre Lorde, 1981)
1946-1989, Black, Consciousness Raising, Date, Defining the Enemy, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, WomenIn this piece from Audre Lorde, a renowned intersectional feminist/activist, she offers the use of anger as a unifying force for women across the lines of race. White women struggled to understand the consequences of racism, even in their own activism. Lorde suggests that this divide can be lessened when women empathize with each other and use their divergent experiences to come together against the patriarchy. Anger can be a powerful tool instead of a divisive force.
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own. And I am not free as long as one person of Color remains chained. Nor is any one of you.”
The Sixties Speak to the Eighties (Redstockings, 1983)
1946-1989, Black, Consciousness Raising, Date, Defining the Enemy, Patriarchy, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy, WomenThe Redstockings are a radical feminist group that emerged partly out of the Women’s Liberation Movement. In this speech, Kathie Sarachild, a prominent activist and leader within the Redstockings, reflects on her time spent with the Civil Rights Movement. Specifically, she focuses on how white feminists need to reflect on who their cause benefits the most and how people in power have intentionally created splits in ideologies so in – fighting remains a constant issue for groups trying to work together. She aims to disrupt the established patterns of thinking and create more opportunities for a collective group working together to disrupt the patriarchy and white supremacy.