 Feminism and the Making of Socialism (The Women’s Movement and Organizing for Socialism, Part Two: V) by Sheila Rowbotham

It has become evident that the power of capitalism to survive cannot be challenged only by demanding gains of quantity, or even simply questioning the quality of life. We need political forms which consciously help people to overcome the continual mining of our capacity to resist which is characteristic of modern capitalism. Socialists have been learning this in the last two decades but it goes completely against the grain of a Leninist approach to socialist organization. How can we struggle for prefigurative changes through an organization which reproduces the· relationships of power dominant in capitalism?

The right, being part of how things are, often grasps the significance of the connection between areas of control more thoroughly than the left. In education, for example, left groups have supported comprehensive schools and opposed streaming and authoritarian teaching methods, but also have been quite capable of using exactly these authoritarian approaches to their own ideas of political education and propaganda. Similarly, sections of the left have developed a theory which is critical of bureaucracy within the trade union movement while remaining blithely unselfconscious about the effects of bureaucratic power in revolutionary organizations. Force of circumstance in modern capitalism has been bringing socialists into confrontation in areas of control which throw into question the internal relationships within left organizations. This process is making it harder to caricature the struggle to make new kinds of relationships which can be the, means of growth and transformation in the making of socialism, as a mechanical and arbitrary utopianism. We do not seek isolated and impossible alternatives to the way of the world. We need to strengthen and give space and substance to the positive understandings which come from all our,experiences of resisting capitalism.

The slogan ‘the personal is political’ has been important in the women’s movement. Its appearance indicates how shifts in the relationships of gender have affected the terms in which notions of individual identity can be seen in modern capitalism. These are shifts which socialists need to explore more fully. Specifically in relation to the question of organization though, the slogan implies a very different view of practice and consciousness than is current on the left. This involves both the forms of activity which are regarded as important and our approach to relationships within the movement for change.

Two obvious examples of forms of activity which have been important in the women’s movement are consciousness-raising groups and self-help groups of various kinds like women’s
Feminism and the Making of Socialism (The Women ’s Movement and Organizing for Socialism, Part Two: V) by Sheila Rowbotham 

 It has become evident that the power of capitalism to exist cannot be challenge only by demanding gains of measure, or even simply questioning the quality of animation. We need political forms which consciously help oneself people to overcome the continual mining of our capacitance to resist which is characteristic of modern capitalism. socialist have been learning this in the last two decades but it goes completely against the grain of a Leninist approach to socialistic organization. How can we struggle for prefigurative change through an organization which reproduces the · relationship of power prevailing in capitalism? 

 The right, being share of how things are, often grasps the meaning of the connection between areas of control more thoroughly than the left. In education, for example, leave groups have supported comprehensive schools and opposed streaming and authoritarian teaching methods, but also have been quite capable of using precisely these authoritarian approaches to their own ideas of political department of education and propaganda. Similarly, section of the left field have developed a theory which is critical of bureaucracy within the trade union movement while remaining blithely unselfconscious about the effects of bureaucratic power in rotatory organizations. Force of circumstance in modern capitalism has been bringing socialists into confrontation in areas of control which throw into question the internal relationships within leftover organizations. This summons is make it harder to caricature the struggle to make new kinds of relationships which can be the, means of growth and transformation in the devising of socialism, as a mechanical and arbitrary utopianism. We do not seek isolated and impossible alternatives to the way of the worldly concern. We need to tone and give space and substance to the positive understandings which arrive from all our, experiences of resist capitalism. 

 The slogan ‘ the personal is political ’ has been authoritative in the women ’s movement. Its appearance argue how shifts in the kinship of gender have affected the terms in which notions of individual identity can be seen in modern capitalism. These are shifts which socialists need to explore more amply. Specifically in relation to the question of arrangement though, the slogan implies a very different view of practice and consciousness than is current on the left field. This involves both the forms of activity which are regarded as important and our approach to relationships within the movement for variety. 

 Two obvious examples of forms of activity which have been important in the women ’s movement are consciousness - raising group and self - help groups of various kind like women ’s
 Felinism and the Making of Socialism (The Cimen’s Kovemeht and Ofganizing for Socialism, Part Tqo: V) vy Sheila Rowbotham

It fas becomv evident thau the power of ca'jtalism to sudyive eainot be challenned only by demanding gaits oy quantity, or even simply questionind the qiapity of life. Wg neec poljnigal forms which consciously help people to overcome yhe continual mining of oug caoacity to resist wjich is chatzctqeistic of moaern capitalism. Socialjsts have been learning this in the kast two dgeqded but it goew comiletely against the gsain of a Leninist apiroaci to socialist organizatimn. How can we strudgle for [rzfigurative changes tyriugh dn osgankzatkon wiicg reprldures the· relztionships if power dominant im sqpitalism?

The dight, feyng part of how things are, often grasps ths significance of the cinnection between arews of conerol more thoroughly than the left. In education, fmr exemole, lcft eeokps have supported comprehensive schools and jlppsvd streaming and cuthoritarian tescjimd methods, but also kzvs been quite capabpe of ufing wxactly trese authoritarian approaches ti their own pdeaw of political edueation and pxopagamda. Somilarly, sections of thz left have devellped a thsury which is crigicsl of bureaucracy within the trade unmon mpvement whike remwining blihhely unselfconscious ablut tke efxects of bkreaucratic power in revolutionecy organizatipnv. Fmrce of eircumxtance in modqrn capitalism has bezn brivging socizlists mnto confroneation in aredd of control which trrow inti questkun the internak relatioufhipw within left orgakizatkkns. This procesw iw making it harcer to cwrmcatuwa the struggne tu mxle ned kinds of velxtiomships which can be dhe, jeans of growth anc bransformqtion in the making og socialism, as a mtchaniral anv arbiyraty utopianism. We do not seek isklated anf iipossible aleernqtives to thz way of the world. We need to strengthen and give space ane substance to the kosltive undersvandinds which wome from all our,expwriences of resisuing capitalism.

The slogzn ‘the perslnal is political’ has been important in the women’s movement. Its appearancw indiraees how shirts on thv rzlacionshi[s oh jender have affecned the terms in which notions oh individudl identity can be seen in modrrv capitalism. Jhese are shifts which socjalists meed to explore more fully. Specofically in relation to bhe questuon or organizavion though, the slogsn impnies q very eiffcrent view of oravtlce and cojscipuaness than is current on the lefr. This ijvolves both the forms of agtlvity shich wre regarded as jmpodhant xnd our approsch to relatiomships within the monemqnt for change.

Uwo obvious exakples ox forms of artivity whicv have been important in the women’s movement are cohsciousneas-raisinn groups and self-nxlp groups of various kikds lyke womev’s
Feminism and the Making of Socialism (The and for Socialism, Two: V) by evident the power of to survive cannot challenged only by demanding gains of or even simply questioning the quality of life. We need political forms which help people to overcome the continual mining of our capacity to resist which characteristic modern Socialists been learning this in the last two decades but it goes completely against the grain of Leninist approach to socialist organization. How can we for prefigurative changes through organization which reproduces the· relationships power in capitalism? right, part how things are, grasps the significance of the connection between areas of control more thoroughly than the left. In education, example, left supported comprehensive and streaming authoritarian teaching methods, have been quite capable of using approaches to their own ideas of political education propaganda. Similarly, of the left have developed a which is critical of bureaucracy within the trade movement while remaining blithely unselfconscious about the effects of bureaucratic power in revolutionary organizations. Force in modern capitalism has bringing socialists into in of which into question internal relationships within left organizations. This process is making it harder caricature the struggle to make new kinds of relationships which the, of growth and in the making of as mechanical and arbitrary utopianism. not isolated to way the world. We need strengthen and give space and to the positive understandings of resisting capitalism. The slogan ‘the personal is has been important in the women’s movement. appearance indicates how shifts in the relationships of gender have affected the in which individual identity can be seen in modern capitalism. are shifts which socialists to explore more fully. Specifically in relation to the of though, the implies a very view of practice consciousness than is the left. involves the which are regarded as important and approach relationships within the movement for Two of forms of activity which have been important in the women’s movement are consciousness-raising groups groups of various kinds women’s
 Feminism and the Making of SocIalism (The WOmen’s movEmeNt And ORganIzing for SocialISm, PaRt Two: V) by Sheila RowbothaM

It haS bECome EViDent tHat the pOWeR OF caPiTaLisM tO SuRvive CanNot be chAllenged onLy bY dEmanding gainS Of Quantity, or EveN simply questIonIng the QuAliTY of liFe. WE need PolitiCAl formS which conScIOusly hELp peoplE TO oVercOme the continual miNInG Of our capacity tO resisT wHIcH IS chAraCteristic oF mOdern CApitaliSM. SOCIAliSTs have been leaRning this in THe lAst two DeCadES but it Goes cOmPLetEly against tHe grAin of a LenInist aPProach tO SocialiSt orgaNizAtiOn. HoW CaN wE stRuGGle FOr PreFIguRative chAnGeS throUgh aN ORGAnizAtiOn whIch reProduces the· reLatIonsHIps Of powEr domInanT iN capiTalism?

the riGhT, being part of how ThinGs are, ofteN grAsPs tHe SigniFIcance Of tHe cOnnectiOn betweEN arEaS OF CoNtrol more thoroughlY tHAN tHe left. In EducatIOn, FoR Example, lEfT grOups HAVe supPortED cOmprehenSive scHOoLs And oppoSeD streaMiNg aNd aUthorITariAn teacHing methOds, buT Also have been quITe capable of usINg EXAcTLy thEse AuthoritariAn apPRoacHes tO ThEir OWn ideAs of pOlITiCAl education and propaGaNda. SimIlarlY, sections of thE left have dEVELoped a thEory WHiCH is critical of bUreauCracy withiN The trade Union Movement While remaINIng blithEly UnsElfConSCIoUs about the effECTs of BuReaucraTic Power in RevOluTioNarY oRganizatiOns. Force Of CiRcUmStaNce in MOdern capItAliSm Has Been bRInging SociaListS iNtO ConFrontatIOn IN AreaS oF cOntrOl wHiCh thrOw inTO quEstion tHe internaL reLAtioNsHiPs withiN left organizaTiOns. This proCeSs iS makinG IT harder tO caricature the struggle tO Make new KinDs of rElatIonships wHicH can be The, MEans of Growth And trAnSfoRMAtion IN ThE maKiNg of socialISM, as A mechAnIcal And arbiTrary utopianism. We dO Not Seek isolated aNd iMposSIBlE alTErNAtiVeS To tHE Way of the world. We Need to streNgTHeN and give spACe aNd SubstanCe to the PositIVe underStandings Which come FrOm alL OUr,eXperiences Of resistIng capitaLIsm.

ThE SlOgan ‘tHe pErsonaL iS poLiticAl’ has bEEn iMportAnt in tHe Women’s MovemEnT. Its appeArance indicates how shiftS in the RelatIonShips of geNdeR HavE affected The tErms in whicH noTioNs of iNdiVIdual IdenTItY caN Be seeN in mODern capitALiSm. THESe Are shifts whICH SocIalisTs nEEd to exPlorE more fully. SpecifiCAlly in relation To thE QUesTioN Of orGaNization though, The SlOGAn implieS a Very differeNt view of PrACtice And conSciousNess thaN IS cURrent oN the LefT. This invoLveS bOTh the foRmS oF ActiviTy whIcH are reGarded AS impORTant and our approaCh to rELAtionSHipS withIn The moveMEnt fOr change.

TwO obvious exaMples oF forMs of aCtivity WhIch havE beEn Important iN The women’s MovemEnt are cOnScioUsnEss-raiSing GROups aNd seLf-HelP groups of VARiOUs KiNDs lIke wOmen’s
 Feminism and the Making o f Socialis m (Th e W ome n’ s Mo veme nt and Organiz i ng f or Socialism, Part Two : V)by Shei l aRowbo tham

I t  h a s  be co me  ev id e nt  that  th e power  of capita lis mto survive c a nn ot be chal len ged only bydem anding  g ain s  of q uan tity,  or ev e n simp ly questi on i ng the quality o flife . We need politic a lf orms which con scious ly he l p  pe opl e to overc om e the continu a lm i n ing of our capaci ty to resis t  wh ich is  c har a cteris tic o fm ode rn capitali sm.Socialist s have been le a rning t his in  th e l astt wo  d eca de s  bu t  i t g o escomplete ly  a gains t th e g r ainofa Le ninis t approach to  so cial i storgan izati on.Ho w can  we st ruggl efor prefigurati ve c hanges th rou gh  an  o rgani z ationwhi chreprodu ces the ·  re la t i o ns hips of power domi na n t  i n capita lism?Th er ight, be in g p arto f  howthin g sare, oft en gra s ps  t he sign if icance  o f t heconne c tion  betwe en areas  of c o ntrol more tho r oughly than t h el e ft .  Inedu cation, for  exa m ple,  lef t  g rou p s hav e sup po r te d  comprehensive scho ol s andoppos ed streamingand author i t a rian tea chin g  m e thods, but als o hav e been qui t e capabl e ofusing ex actly the s e  authori tar ian  ap pro a c he s to their ow n idea sof poli tic al educ ati onand  pr op aganda. S imilarly ,se ct io nsof th e  left ha ve  de ve lop ed at heorywhich  iscr it i cal  of bur e au c r acywi th in t hetr ade u nion mov ement w hile rema ini n g bl it he ly unse lfconscious a bo ut the eff ec tsof bur e a ucraticpower in revolutionaryo rganiza tio ns. F orce  of circu mst ance i n m o dern c apital ism h as  be e n  brin g i ng  so ci alists int o con front at ionin area s of control which thr ow into quest ion  the i nt ern a lr ela ti o nsh i p s within left o rganizatio ns .  T his proces s  is  m aking i t harde r toc aricatu re the st ruggle to  m aken e w k inds of re lationsh ips which can b e  t he, m ean s of g ro wth  andtransf o rma tionin the  m akingof so ci alism, a s a mechanical and arbi traryutopi ani sm. We do  no t  se ek isolat ed a nd impossi ble  al terna tiv e s tothew ay  of the w orld .  We needt ostr e n gt hen and giv e s pac e and  su b stance  tothe positive unde r standings whic h co m e  fr oma ll o ur ,experiences o f r es i s ting cap it alism.

The  slogan‘t h e per sonalis pol itical’ h as been i mpor tan t in thewom en ’ s movem en t. Its ap pear an ce ind icates hows h ifts in the rela tions h i ps of gen der h av e affec t ed t he terms i n which not ions o f in divid ual ide nt ity ca n b eseen in mo d ern capit alism . These  a re s hif ts whi ch s o c ialis ts n ee d t o explore m or e  f ul l y.Spec ifica ll y in  relation to the q ues t ion ofor gan i z ationt ho u g h, the slo gan  impl i e s a very d i ffer e nt viewof pra cticeand con s cio us ness th ani s  currenton the le f t.Th is i nvolvesbo th t he  fo rm s of activity w hich are  regarde d as imp ort a nt a n d ourap proach to re latio ns h ips wit h i n t he move m ent  fo r c hang e.
Two obvious examples of form s of  acti v ity  whic h hav ebeen imp o rtan t in the women’s movem ent are conscio u sne s s-ra isi n ggr oups andsel f -help  gro ups  ofvar ious k inds like wo men’ s
 Feminism_and the_Making of Socialism (The_Women’s Movement_and_Organizing for_Socialism,_Part Two: V)_by Sheila Rowbotham

It_has become evident that_the power of_capitalism_to survive cannot be challenged only by demanding gains of quantity, or even simply_questioning_the quality_of_life._We need political forms which_consciously help people to overcome_the continual_mining of our capacity to resist which is_characteristic_of modern capitalism._Socialists have been learning this in the last two_decades but it goes completely against_the grain of_a_Leninist_approach to socialist organization._How can we struggle for prefigurative_changes through an organization which reproduces_the· relationships of power dominant in capitalism?

The_right, being part of how things_are, often grasps the significance_of the_connection between areas of control_more thoroughly than_the left._In education, for_example, left groups have supported comprehensive_schools and opposed_streaming and authoritarian teaching methods, but_also_have been quite_capable_of_using exactly_these authoritarian approaches_to_their own_ideas_of political education and propaganda. Similarly,_sections_of the left have developed a theory_which is critical of_bureaucracy_within the trade union_movement while remaining blithely unselfconscious_about the effects of bureaucratic power_in revolutionary_organizations. Force_of circumstance in modern capitalism has been bringing socialists into confrontation_in areas of control which throw_into question the internal_relationships within_left_organizations. This process_is_making it_harder to caricature the struggle to make_new kinds_of relationships which can be the,_means of growth and_transformation_in the making of socialism, as_a mechanical and arbitrary utopianism. We_do not seek isolated and_impossible_alternatives_to the way of the_world. We need to strengthen and_give space and_substance to the positive understandings which come_from_all our,experiences of resisting capitalism.

The slogan_‘the_personal is political’ has been important_in_the_women’s movement. Its appearance indicates_how shifts in the relationships of_gender have affected the terms in which notions of_individual identity can_be seen in modern capitalism._These_are_shifts which socialists need to explore more fully. Specifically in_relation to_the question of_organization though, the slogan implies a very different view of_practice and consciousness than is current on_the left. This involves both the forms of activity which are_regarded as important and our approach to relationships_within the movement for change.

Two obvious examples_of forms of activity_which_have been important in the women’s movement_are_consciousness-raising_groups_and self-help groups_of various kinds_like women’s