Leninism, Stalinism, and the Women's Movement in Britain, 1920-1939

Description

This book offers a detailed examination of the interaction between socialism and feminism through the lens of one particular socialist organisation, the Communist Party of Great Britain, from its foundation in 1920 until the outbreak of the Second World War. The study of socialism and feminism in the CPGB can be divided into four major areas – the party’s concept of socialism and the role of women in a future society; the party’s relationship to the feminist movement; the work of the party in relation to specific women’s issues; and how the sexual division of labour operated within the party. The author here defines and explains the socialist and feminist traditions in Britain and describes the ways in which they interacted, both at the level of theory and of practice. Sources from party press and reports to interviews with party members and non-party written and oral evidence and accounts feed into this thorough chronological treatment which outlays the changes within the CPGB during the 1920s and 30s in relation to feminism. LENINISM, STALINISM, AND THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN BRITAIN, 1920–1939 Copyright LENINISM, STALINISM, AND THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN BRITAIN, 1920–1939 Copyright Table of Contents List of abbreviations used Preface Acknowledgements Chapter One The Inheritance: a survey of socialism and feminism in Britain until 1920 Appendix Chapter Two Early Promises, August, 1920 - October, 1922 Chapter Three Women's Sections:progress or defeat? November, 1922 - December, 1925 Chapter Four "Women are our best men", January, 1926 - July, 1928 Chapter Five "No class can free you but your own" August, 1928 - December, 1932 Chapter Six Feminist cadres make an entrance, January, 1933 - December, 1935 Chapter Seven Women against war and fascism, January, 1936 - September, 1939 Appendix to Chapters Six and Seven Chapter Eight Conclusion Appendix Bibliography