New Issue of "feministische studien" (fs) "Articulations of class and gender II"

 Issue 2/2025, Articulations of class and gender II (Ed. Mona Motakef, Elisabeth Klaus)

1.  What is the focus of the new issue?

The issue is devoted to the articulations of class and gender from a conceptual perspective. It aims to bring theoretical and historical traditions of feminist class analysis into dialogue with studies on contemporary capitalist socialisation. For example, we present classic texts by Clara Zetkin and Joan Acker, as well as more recent contributions that intervene in the debate on gender and class relations. What is exciting about this issue is how old and new publications resonate with each other, even though decades lie between them.

2. What can readers look forward to in particular?

Readers can expect an issue that focuses on dialogue. In their contribution, Brigitte Aulenbacher and Tine Haubner discuss the connections and tensions between Marxist and intersectional analyses of capitalism. Other articles – for example, by Marie Kottwitz, Martina Witte, Brigitte Theißl, Francis Seeck and Tanja Abou – develop feminist critiques of classism and draw connections to early, often overlooked approaches. The texts refer to current crises and formulate perspectives that enable justice, equality and solidarity.

3. A special feature of feminist studies is the ‘In Conversation’ section. Who did you talk to this time and what was the topic?

On the occasion of this year's highly acclaimed Pride Parade in Budapest, we talk to Hungarian gender sociologist Judit Takács about the struggles for LGBTQI+ rights in Hungary. We also spoke with New York-based theorist Silvia Federici. She reflects on how the relationship between class and gender has changed since the famous ‘Wages for Housework’ campaign, which she co-initiated, and introduces feminist politics of the commons. Both conversations show how democracies are coming under pressure and how essential feminist struggles are in this context.

4. Which artists are featured in the ‘Images and Signs’ section?

We give space to Elif Saydam. Saydam combines miniature painting with everyday objects – such as kitchen sponges – to reflect on cleaning, care work and migrant economies as symbolic sites of social reproduction. The ‘Späti’ works on display address invisible working conditions. The aesthetic tension between popular culture, ornamentation and high culture gives rise to visual commentaries on class, gender and work.

5. Which text would you read first?

Why not start with the review section? It's really lavish in this issue. Over 25 pages, authors discuss new publications on class relations on television or with texts from the ‘Feminist International’ between 1832 and 1936. One review essay traces the largely forgotten history of feminists at the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research during the Adorno era. The author is Regine Othmer, who has been helping to shape feminist studies for an incredible 40 years. This issue therefore has a special surprise in store for her.

The magazine is published in open access. More information (in german):

https://www.degruyterbrill.com/journal/key/fs/html

https://blog.feministische-studien.de/herzlich-willkommen/