Betrayal by the left, dangers from the right and the need for an autonomous women’s liberation movement

How can women’s liberationists chart our own course when powerful forces seek to dictate the narrative? How can we distinguish feminist interests in defending our autonomy from the paternalist framing of right-wing conservatives? The mistreatment of women on the left who oppose the sex trade and pornography, or who support sex-based rights, represents a massive betrayal. It is a betrayal that leaves women’s liberation acutely vulnerable to exploitation from the right. We are seeing the far and religious right attempt to set the agenda by blaming feminism for opening the pandora’s box of gender, simultaneously ignoring and co-opting feminist voices and distorting our arguments and undermining our politics. This is nothing new, it mirrors right-wing efforts to appropriate the voices of ex-Muslims and campaigners against religious fundamentalism, who also have legitimate grievances against sections of the left. We should learn from that experience. This is a vital meeting addressing concerns of women new to organising, as well as long-standing feminists, on women's liberation as an autonomous project for social transformation in the context of the left betrayal and the dangers posed by the right.

Speakers:
Dani Ahrens, The Radical Notion, Contributing Editor
Katherine Acosta, katherinemacosta.substack.com
Pragna Patel, Feminist Dissent, Author
Ali Ceesay, Brighton
Philipa Harvey

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