Feminism, capitalism and the cunning of history

Building on historical narrative and social-theoretical analysis, Fraser explores the place of second-wave feminism in relation to three specific moments in the history of capitalism. The first point refers to the movement’s beginnings in the context of ‘state-organized capitalism’. The second point refers to the process of feminism’s evolution in the dramatically changed social context of rising neoliberalism. And the third point refers to a possible reorientation of feminism in the present context of capitalist crisis and US political realignment, which for her could mark the beginning of a shift from neoliberalism to a new form of social organization. Orienting her analysis around four key points of feminist critique-androcentrism, economism, étatism and Westphalianism-Fraser charts a fascinating journey of second-wave feminism since the 1960s to identify a “dangerous liaison” second-wave feminism developed with capitalism. She concludes that in order to reclaim second-wave feminism as a robust critique conjoining both claims for recognition and redistribution- which were unlinked during the period of rising neoliberalism-eminism needs to become more historically self-aware.