" . . . a warm, interesting, intellectual biography . . . " —German Studies Review " . . . thoughtful analysis . . . fine book . . . " —Slavic Review The remarkable life of the maverick German socialist feminist Lily Braun (1865–1916) and the relevance of her ideas to the women's movement of our own day emerge with strength and sensitivity.

"Startlingly, by 1914 Braun was espousing nationalistic ideas similar to those that would later be taken up by the National Socialists, and had repudiated many of her long-held feminist stances. She was no longer a pacifist, and her "feminism" now encompassed racial hygiene. Lischke provides a view of both the political and the literary sides of this enigmatic figure, as well as views of the German feminism and literary trends of the period."--BOOK JACKET.

ÒAn excellent introduction to an early socialist . . . Ó ÑThe Book ReaderÒI thank Alfred Meyer for making Lily Braun available to us again.Ó ÑDiane Shooman, WomenÕs Studies International ForumThis anthology makes available for the first time in English a sampling of the writings of Lily Braun (1865Ð1916), a prominent German feminist and socialist whose ideas were ahead of her time. A companion volume to MeyerÕs fine intellectual biography of Braun, this book underlines the relevance of BraunÕs ideas to the concerns of the womenÕs movement of our own day.

The Evolution of Socialist Feminism from Eleanor Marx to AOC traces the intersection of feminism and socialism as it has played out in the socialist movements arising in Europe and North America in the nineteenth through early twenty-first centuries. From well-known figures in the history of socialism, such as Rosa Luxemburg, Sylvia Pankhurst, and Angela Davis, to lesser-known individuals including Claudia Jones, Sheila Rowbotham, and Zillah Eisenstein, this book examines the socialist feminists who have been among the most powerful voices insisting on freedom of expression and participatory democracy within the socialist movement as well as within the larger society. It considers how these figures contributed to what has become a twenty-first-century multiracial grassroots socialist feminist movement led by young women of color, playing a major role in radical movements across the globe. The Evolution of Socialist Feminism from Eleanor Marx to AOC is an important text for undergraduate students of politics, sociology, and gender studies, as well as for the general reader.

A “brilliant,” “engaging,” and “valuable,” (Financial Times) exploration of why capitalism hurts women and how socialism, when done right, can bring economic independence, better labor conditions and, yes, even better sex. In a witty, irreverent op-ed piece that went viral, Kristen Ghodsee argued that women had better sex under socialism. The response was tremendous — clearly she articulated something many women had sensed for years: the problem is with capitalism, not with us. Ghodsee, an acclaimed ethnographer and professor of Russian and East European Studies, spent years researching what happened to women in countries that transitioned from state socialism to capitalism. She argues here that unregulated capitalism disproportionately harms women, and that we should learn from the past. By rejecting the bad and salvaging the good, we can adapt some socialist ideas to the 21st century and improve our lives. She tackles all aspects of a woman's life - work, parenting, sex and relationships, citizenship, and leadership. In a chapter called "Women: Like Men, But Cheaper," she talks about women in the workplace, discussing everything from the wage gap to harassment and discrimination. In "What To Expect When You're Expecting Exploitation," she addresses motherhood and how "having it all" is impossible under capitalism. Women are standing up for themselves like never before, from the increase in the number of women running for office to the women's march to the long-overdue public outcry against sexual harassment. Interest in socialism is also on the rise -- whether it's the popularity of Bernie Sanders or the skyrocketing membership numbers of the Democratic Socialists of America. It's become increasingly clear to women that capitalism isn't working for us, and Ghodsee is the informed, lively guide who can show us the way forward.

This collection is organized in five part: Education for Girls and Women; Women and Work; Women and Politics; Issues of Gender; and Women in Art and Literature. It includes more than 90 excerpts by some 50 women writers. Among the author included are Annette von Droste-Hnlshoff (1797-1848), Fanny Lewald (1811-1889), Louise Otto-Peters (1819-1895), Marie Freirfrau von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916), Hedwig Dohm (1833-1919), Helene Lang (1848-1930), Lily Braun (1865-1916), Rosa Luxemburg (1870-1919) and many more.>