What is Anarcha-feminism?

Anarcha-feminism has also been called anarchist feminism and anarcho feminism. It unites both the ideologies of anarchism and feminism.

They hold the view that patriarchy is as a manifestation of an involuntary hierarchy. The anarchist struggle against patriarchy is also an important part of the class struggle against the state.

The philosophy behind this view is that the anarchist struggle is a necessary component of the feminist struggle and vice-versa.

It has been purported that both anarchism and feminist go hand in hand. As anarchism is a political philosophy that opposes all relationships of power thus making it inherently feminist.

The anarcha-feminist is opposed to the traditional concepts of the family, education and gender roles.

The state that marriage is an institution that stifles individual growth and that it is primarily an economics arrangement. Which sees women giving up the right to their name, privacy, self-respect and life.

They also believe that a non-hierarchal family and educational structure would be the only way to gain an equal society.

Anarchist feminism is noted for having both individualistic and collectivism forms, with the individualist being more prominent in the United States. European anarchists concentrate more on the collectivism form.

Writer Wendy McElroy sited, " Ifeminism or individualist feminism, combines feminism with anarcho-capitalism or libertarianism."

She continues by arguing, "That a pro-capitalist, anti-state position implies equal rights and empowerment for women."

Recently in the United States anarcha-feminist circles coined the term "Manarchist" as a pejorative label for male anarchists.

They state, "The male anarchists who are dismissive of feminist concerns, who are overtly antifeminist, or who behave in ways regarded as patriarchal and misogynistic."

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century anarcha-feminism was introduced by authors and theorist such as Emma Goldman, Voltairine de Cleyre and Lucy Parsons.

An anarchist and feminist group was created in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The movement was called Mujeres Libres (Free women) and was set up to defend the rights anarchist and feminist ideology.

It had been noted that anarcha-feminism is dismissive of third world feminist views and oppressions. This was especially apparent in the fight of the anarcha-feminist in the Middle East, as there issues were not taken in to consideration.