Abstract
Although she avoided biological motherhood, Emma Goldman depicts herself in her autobiography, Living My Life, in the more conventional role of mother in relationship to the masses, to her anarchist periodical Mother Earth, and to her lovers and certain other men. In doing so, she seems to be aware that motherhood is a cultural construction as a social role that historically, at least since the eighteenth century, has relied on the assumption of “instinct.” However, this perspective does not necessarily reflect Goldman's whole regard for motherhood or all of the feminist points of view during her lifetime. In this paper, I will argue that the lens of late twentieth- and early twenty-first century feminist arguments, which further the earlier feminist claims of Goldman's time, enable us to view the nuances of her maternal identity as it functions to strengthen the anarchist agenda within the text. The constructions of motherhood, as they appear in Living My Life, draw from opposing views of the nature of “woman” and reshape not only power relationships but the conception of motherhood itself, creating a viable rhetoric for the anarchist argument.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.