[FONT=arial]Men's Feminism, Theory and Practice[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]In an interesting chapter on "Women and Bebel," the authors trace Bebel's relationships with a number of women, bringing out the diversities of interactions. This includes mutual influences and assistance, between Bebel on one hand and Gertrud Guillaume-Schack and Hope Adams on the other.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial]Adams was integrated with the socialist movement, widely known for her health work, herself a physician particularly involved with issues of birth control and patient rights. Because of her hospital connections, Adams could perform abortions. Bebel's views on abortion in Women and Socialism became increasingly sympathetic, possibly influenced by women such as Hope Adams.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial]Schack, for her part, was mostly outside the socialist movement, and her ideas were often at loggerheads with those of other feminists too. She was instrumental, nonetheless, in drawing attention to the situation of prostitutes.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial]She financed the first working-class women's newspaper, The Woman Citizen, and wanted to organize women against state regulation of prostitution. She believed prostitutes should have the same rights as men, and opposed restrictions or sanctions on sexual behavior.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial]Unlike Lenin, Bebel was not uneasy with discussing about prostitution. He raised the issue and examined its causes: gender imbalance and class oppression.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial]But perhaps the limits of 19th century men's feminism can also be found in this chapter, provided somewhat unwittingly by the authors. In their discussion on the relationship between Julie Bebel and August, the authors have a desire to show their hero in the best possible light.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial]Julie, we are told, was completely independent. Bebel's On the Present and Future Position of Women had emphasized that marriage was a private contract between two fully equal partners, to be dissolved without external constraints when the relationship between them made it necessary.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial]In real life, say Lopes and Roth, "traditional gender roles prevailed in the early years of their marriage." (145) But when Bebel was arrested Julie managed his business and served as his political liaison. Bebel's unstinted support to Julie, including when she had a clash with his business partner, is documented.[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial]What is played down, however, is that this involved a reintroduction of domesticity. Nearly every letter of Julie to August includes references to constraints on her time. And in a letter to Engels, she wrote:[/FONT]
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[FONT=arial]"I was often very dissatisfied that I couldn't do anything for my intellectual development; but the thought that I could provide a comfortable home for my husband made me happy since this was so important for his intellectual development and work. Because I had to take care of his Party business insofar as I could when he was so often away from home, I was immersed in the spirit of the movement and today remain entirely within it. And so, I must be satisfied with what I have learned." (157)[/FONT]