nuch in agreement witl Rachel Wingfield's concern about male-dominated organisations. In no way was it our intention to trivialise feminist politics. We meant precisely the opposite.
It has to be said though, it did MOSo my mind that 'Sex, morality & Madonna' (SO 1) would stir up a hornets' nest. Both Sarah Pickett and myself were fully aware that such an article would lay us open to the charge of political heresy. For my part, if I have sinned at all mavbe it is because I have a tendency to political masochism. But then don't we all...?
Call me paranoid, but I sense from the tone of Rachel's, Kathy's (SO 2) and Ann's (SO 3) letters, an atmosphere of despairing disapproval. How can 'socialist feminists even consider that Madonna may be anything other than a gendertraitor?
There are many different ways in which this debate could What has certainly been shown is that there is more than one way on the left oflooking at sexual politics. For that reason the discussion should go on. Socialist feminists have not all undergone identical processes of politicisation. Everyone can learn at least something from the discussion about our differences. This has obviously working together to build a strong and vibrant socialist feminist movement.
Going back to the Madonna debate'. I think it's wrong to argue that bourgeois individualism, sexual liberalism and sexually assertive women have nothing in common with feminism. It is obviously trueto say that not every bourgeois individual, sexual liberal or sexually assertive woman is a feminist. That fact though cannot be used to argue the reverse. The truth is that not feminists are right-on.
Given the fragmentation of the women's movement today marginalisation of socialist feminism; this is not surprising. The fact remains that feminism today is a term that means all things to all people. Yet at the same time we are faced with the post-feminist offensive. How can this be fought successfully?
Madonna does consider herself a feminist. We can all agree that her brand of feminism will not in itself result in the ending of women's oppression. That is true for all brands of bourgeois feminism.
But as the deepening crisis of capitalism unfolds it is accompanied by a deepening alienation experienced by individuais in the working class. This is particularly true for young workNo. 4 that she consciously expresses your sexuality, rebel against dividuality. is what women's liberation is all clear that the last decade has led people to conform to tradition(amongst other things). Traditionally male public and female sexuality socialist feminists like or dislike roles (what I think she does in against the right-wing bigots who want to see all expression to the private sphere. feminist or proletarian culture can exist in geois in nature. That doesn't questions of culture then I think it's wise to be an anarchist...
Sam Inman London, N1 June 22, 1991 Page 13
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