Marxism and intersectionality: race, gender, class and sexuality under contemporary capitalism by Ashley J. Bohrer

Main Takeaway

  • The transcript provides a comprehensive examination of the historical relationship between intersectionality and Marxism, emphasising their shared origins and contemporary implications regarding race, gender, class, and sexuality under capitalism. The text covers many critical figures and concepts pivotal in shaping these frameworks.

Part One: Histories

Introduction

  • Bohrer introduces the essential dialogues between Marxism and intersectionality, noting their intertwined historical paths and how this history informs current theoretical debates.

Chapter Zero: The Shared History of Intersectional and Marxist Traditions

  • Historical Context

    • From the 1920s to the 1980s, significant interaction occurred between Marxism and intersectionality, especially in feminist scholarship.

    • Notable figures include black feminists who contributed to early socialist and anti-capitalist critiques.

    • Important to avoid simplifying or misrepresenting these theories as solely one part of a dialectic.

  • Key Concept:

    • Black Feminism and Capitalism: The text asserts that critiques of capitalism are foundational within black feminism and that feminist contributions historically situated themselves as part of socialist dialogues.

  • Acknowledge Precursors:

    • Scholars like Claudia Jones and Sojourner Truth articulated ideas that presage intersectionality, linking their lived experiences of race and gender to historical material conditions.

  • Notable Contributors:

    • Black women, such as Maria Stewart, Sojourner Truth, and Ida B. Wells, significantly positioned labor issues within their critiques, foreshadowing future intersectionality theories.

    • Claudia Jones: Introduced the concept of “superexploitation,” which reflects an understanding of the unique position of black women under capitalism.

    • Ida B. Wells: Provided systematic examinations of lynching as a means of economic control, linking racial oppression to capitalism.

  • Decentralizing Marxism:

    • The relationship is non-hierarchical, suggesting that various systems of oppression interplay and are equally critical to understanding human experiences.

Key Figures and Concepts

  • Maria Stewart: Early advocate of articulating the plight of black women, stating, “We have pursued the shadow, they have obtained the substance…”. Stewart’s work anticipates Marx's theories about surplus value.

  • Sojourner Truth: Her speech, "Ain't I a Woman?", highlights the interplay of race and gender in a capitalist context, illustrating the unique struggles of black women.

  • Ida B. Wells-Barnett: Critiques the socio-economic motivations behind lynching in America, connecting it to broader structural inequalities in capitalism.

Section Overview

  1. Nineteenth-Century Roots

    • Contributions and discourses from notable figures central to the early development of the intersectional tradition.

  2. Early Twentieth Century Activism

    • Focus on black women in Marxist movements, how their experiences and critiques refined communist ideologies.

  3. Late Twentieth Century Formulations

    • Examination of theories including multiple jeopardy, standpoint theory, and sexist racism that shape contemporary understanding of intersectionality.

Part Two: Debates

Chapter One: The Intersectional Tradition

  • Definitions and Discourse

    • Intersectionality encompasses various discussions about identity, oppression, and their interrelations, often defined in relation to major theorists like Kimberlé Crenshaw and Patricia Hill Collins.

  • Crenshaw’s Definition:

    • Initially linked intersectionality to experiences of black women in employment, emphasizing the interaction of race and gender.

    • Further developed into three forms: structural, political, and representational intersectionality.

  • Collins’ Matrix of Domination:

    • Proposes that systems of race, class, gender, and other categories are mutually constituitive, not independent.

  • Hancock and May:

    • Highlight the analytical and political dimensions of intersectionality, emphasizing its implications for understanding social justice.

Proposed Themes

  • Inseparability of Oppressions

    • Rejects single-axis understandings, positing that race, gender, and class are intertwined in systemic ways.

  • Non-Hierarchical Framework

    • No oppression can claim primacy over another; addressing one requires tackling all simultaneously.

  • Coalition Building

    • Encourages inclusive political practices that honor differences rather than erasing them.

Conclusion

  • Intersectionality scholars often share a commitment to anti-capitalism and emphasize the importance of integrating these critiques into both theoretical frameworks and activist movements.

  • The work collectively suggests a restoration of key concepts within the intersections of race, gender, and capitalism to inform broader socio-political struggles.