Sheila Rowbotham is a British socialist feminist theorist and writer whose work delves into the profound analysis of social and cultural dimensions of oppression. She founded her writing on the conviction that traditional political history often overlooks the voices and experiences of ordinary people and women. From the outset of her career, Rowbotham has dedicated herself to exploring how Marxist ideas and feminist theory can illuminate and connect economic and cultural forms of oppression. Her work emphasizes the necessity of merging socialist and feminist thought to achieve genuine social transformation.
The 1980s marked a tumultuous period under Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government, which aggressively targeted leftist movements and severely impacted the working class. This era saw significant challenges for various marginalized groups, facing heightened discrimination and economic disruption. The narrative explores the struggles and resilience of those affected, highlighting the broader social and political implications of Thatcher's policies during this transformative decade.
A personal history of life, love and women's liberation
From the 1880s to the 1920s, a profound social awakening among women extended the possibilities of change far beyond the struggle for the vote. Amid the growth of globalized trade, mass production, immigration and urban slums, American and British women broke with custom and prejudice. Taking off corsets, forming free unions, living communally, buying ethically, joining trade unions, doing social work in settlements, these “dreamers of a new day” challenged ideas about sexuality, mothering, housework, the economy and citizenship. Drawing on a wealth of research, Sheila Rowbotham has written a groundbreaking new history that shows how women created much of the fabric of modern life. These innovative dreamers raised questions that remain at the forefront of our twenty-first-century lives.