Wr. Poster, THE CHALLENGES AND PROMISES OF CLASS AND RACIAL DIVERSITY IN THE WOMENS MOVEMENT - A STUDY OF 2 WOMENS ORGANIZATIONS, Gender & society, 9(6), 1995, pp. 659-679
This article demonstrates how class and racial dynamics generate diffe
rent styles of activism among women's movement organizations. Based on
a comparative study of two feminist organizations-one composed of low
er-class women of color and another of upper-class white women-it char
ts the formation of divergent types of gender politics. First, it expl
ores how differences in the class and racial backgrounds of the member
ships create distinct organizational needs; second, how these divergen
t political interests motivate contrasting organizational ideologies,
activities, and structures; and finally how they motivate different ap
proaches to the wider women's movement. At the conclusion, implication
s are drawn for cross-class/race alliances among grassroots women's or
ganizations.