Introduction: Thinking the History of Women’s Activism into Global Labor History

This book is about a major theme in the history of the laboring classes that continues to be understudied. Its chapters examine women’s activism in men- as well as women-dominated sectors of the world of work and women’s activism within the labor movement and various other male-dominated organi- zations and institutions on the one hand, and women-dominated networks and women’s organizations on the other. Working women’s activism and organizing aimed at improving both labor conditions in paid and unpaid work and the living conditions of working-class women and their families and communities. In short: women’s activism with a focus on work possesses a rich history. In the following pages, we first summarize what we consider this book’s key contributions to the history of labor and gender. We then give a (however par- tial) overview of the genealogy of conceptual innovation generated by scholars who have studied the gendered history of work and women’s activism in relation to work and labor. Finally, we discuss the three core themes most prominently addressed in the chapters assembled in this book, highlighting both their cen- trality to the gendered and global history of labor and the contributions of the indi- vidual chapters. Discussing these themes we ask: how can women’s labor activism in a large variety of men- and women-dominated contexts be “thought together,” and how does such an inclusive perspective help bring about conceptual advancement in writing the history of women’s work-related activism? How can the study of the history of women’s work-related activism contribute to advancing conceptualiza- tions of agency and social action? And finally, how can a focus on women activ- ists’ biographies help us develop both inclusive and actor-centered approaches to women’s work-related activism? As we engage with more specialized literature on these large themes and the related findings of the individual chapters assembled in Women, Work, and Activism, we aim to provide deeper insight into and exemplify the overall contribution of the book, which we describe in the following section.