On Friday, March 5, 1999 at 15:33:14 (-0800) Jim Devine writes: >Colin: >Why assume that patriarchal or race-privileging structures and >institutions cannot be dynamic or unstable? If we've learned anything >about cultures in recent decades it is that they are seldom static. >Patriarchs or racists may present specific practices and beliefs as >hallowed by tradition, but the tradition usually turns out to be a recent >invention.< > >it's true that these change. But my presumption is that racist and sexist >practices change due to impacts from capitalism which (1) disrupt the >power of the dominators and/or (2) strengthen the struggles of the dominated. In the case of women's suffrage, if I remember correctly, a big push was given by WWI. German brewers here employed lots of women, and (therefore) also funded anti-suffrage campaigns. WWI knocked out the brewers, opening up space for the women. Bill
