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A review by garberdog
The Politics of Everybody: Feminism, Queer Theory, and Marxism at the Intersection by Holly Lewis
2.0
Disappointing. Lewis sets out to formulate a Marxist framework that can incorporate gender and sexuality oppression (and to some extent racism), and in that her heart is in the right place. However, what follows is a somewhat confused, at times superficial, and largely unoriginal argument that consists primarily of summaries of previous debates and the work of other scholars.
To be fair, Lewis does make a compelling (but again not wholly original) critique of both postcolonialism and “homonormativity.” These moments, and her clear and compelling conclusions that serve as calls to action, are the strongest parts of her original argument. The summaries of the relationship between Marxism and feminism and between Marxism and major theoretical currents in the Euroamerican academy were also helpful, but derivative of previous scholarship.
Her analysis of race, based largely on a brief reading of Barbara and Karen Fields’ “Racecraft,” was seriously disappointing. Indeed, discussion of racism feel largely tacked on throughout the text. I know that one book can’t do everything, but this was quite inadequate.
Most frustratingly, Lewis castigates the Marxist-feminist scholar Teresa Ebert and wrongly caricatures her as anti-queer/trans reactionary who can’t think beyond orthodox Marxism. To the absolute contrary, Ebert’s work is some of the most compelling, incisive, and rigorous Marxist-feminist analysis to date. Ebert’s excellent “Ludic Feminism and After” is in many respects a superior version of Lewis’ book. I sincerely hope that Lewis’ cheap shot at Ebert won’t prevent others interested in Marxist analyses of gender oppression from finding their way to her work.
This is a fine primer in that it covers a lot territory quickly, but I can’t exactly say I’d recommend it to either a beginner to Marxism and/or feminist/queer politics (it offers too little of the former and assumes too deep an academic familiarity with the latter), or to experts in either camp. Ultimately, Lewis’ book is welcome in that it is attempting to articulate a conception of Marxism in which anti-sexism, anti-homophobia/transphobia, and anti-racism are always assumed to be internal to class struggle. This is wholly welcome. That her particular formulation is not satisfactory is just a reminder that more such scholarship is urgently needed in this area.
To be fair, Lewis does make a compelling (but again not wholly original) critique of both postcolonialism and “homonormativity.” These moments, and her clear and compelling conclusions that serve as calls to action, are the strongest parts of her original argument. The summaries of the relationship between Marxism and feminism and between Marxism and major theoretical currents in the Euroamerican academy were also helpful, but derivative of previous scholarship.
Her analysis of race, based largely on a brief reading of Barbara and Karen Fields’ “Racecraft,” was seriously disappointing. Indeed, discussion of racism feel largely tacked on throughout the text. I know that one book can’t do everything, but this was quite inadequate.
Most frustratingly, Lewis castigates the Marxist-feminist scholar Teresa Ebert and wrongly caricatures her as anti-queer/trans reactionary who can’t think beyond orthodox Marxism. To the absolute contrary, Ebert’s work is some of the most compelling, incisive, and rigorous Marxist-feminist analysis to date. Ebert’s excellent “Ludic Feminism and After” is in many respects a superior version of Lewis’ book. I sincerely hope that Lewis’ cheap shot at Ebert won’t prevent others interested in Marxist analyses of gender oppression from finding their way to her work.
This is a fine primer in that it covers a lot territory quickly, but I can’t exactly say I’d recommend it to either a beginner to Marxism and/or feminist/queer politics (it offers too little of the former and assumes too deep an academic familiarity with the latter), or to experts in either camp. Ultimately, Lewis’ book is welcome in that it is attempting to articulate a conception of Marxism in which anti-sexism, anti-homophobia/transphobia, and anti-racism are always assumed to be internal to class struggle. This is wholly welcome. That her particular formulation is not satisfactory is just a reminder that more such scholarship is urgently needed in this area.