Emma Goldman: Warrior for Choice
“I demand the independence of woman, her right to support herself; to live for herself; to love whomever she pleases, or as many as she pleases. I demand freedom for both sexes, freedom of action, freedom in love and freedom in motherhood.” –Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman is one of my favorite historical figures and remains an inspiration in my life as I strive to be a bold, brave, feminist. Her radical political activities, including her passionate belief in anarchism have caused her contributions to the birth control movement to be overlooked by many. However, Goldman was among the earliest advocates of sex education and birth control, one of Margaret Sanger’s early high profile supporters, a midwife, and a champion of living “the personal is political” decades before the women’s movement adopted the ideology in the 1970s.
Goldman is a deliciously controversial figure. Critics accuse her of overly advocating violence and irresponsible behaviors. Her open lesbian relationships caused her to be ignored by many during her time. In 1916 she was deported back to Russia along with hundreds of other seemingly dangerous radicals. Like many radicals of her time, she was imprisoned on many occassions. Along with Sanger and others, Goldman was labeled “rebel woman” for being outspoken in a time when Victorian standards remained mainstream.
One reason the study of the history of feminism and the reproductive rights movement is important is it teaches young feminists and would-be activists not just about the greatness of figures such as Goldman, but how their origins are similar to ours. Like many women who find their way into feminism, Goldman had an unhappy childhood and grew up feeling out of place. She was a good student and was accepted into an elite private school as a young child, but was unable to attend because her teacher would not give her a certificate of good behavior. When her family’s poverty forced the children of the household to work, Goldman begged her stepfather to return to school. Instead to nurturing her, he threw her books into the fireplace yelling, “”Girls do not have to learn much! All a Jewish daughter needs to know is how to prepare gefilte fish, cut noodles fine, and give the man plenty of children.” Goldman also recounted being sexually abused on more than one occasion growing up, including by a male teacher.
Goldman’ relationship with her parents was a struggle for the rest of her life. At fifteen her stepfather attempted to arrange a marriage for Emma, and often called her cruel names. Her parents later turned their backs on her when her first marriage ended in disaster, considering her a “loose woman.”
Goldman took an interesting position in relation to “first wave feminism” and the suffrage movement, instead focusing on more radical issues. It is interesting to consider, given her politics and the relatively conservative nature of the suffrage movement, if Goldman would have even been accepted by the U.S. suffragists.
Many people do not know that Goldman was a midwife, a profession she learned during one of her several prison stints for inciting riots. When she attempted to obtain formal training after being released, Goldman discovered that midwifery was a study closed to women in the U.S. and traveled to Europe to continue her training.
When Margaret Sanger coined the term “birth control” and started her magazine The Woman Rebel, Goldman actively embraced her message. In 1916 she was arrested in violation of the Comstock Laws for speaking about contraception options to audiences.
Goldman was the founder and editor of her own magazine, Mother Earth. The magazine operated for ten years and included writing from such famous radicals and activists as Floyd Dell, Mabel Dodge, Alice Stone Blackwell, and Sanger herself.
Goldman’s legacy is being remembered in many areas outside women’s studies departments. The Emma Goldman Papers project is housed at Berkeley University. The Emma Goldman Clinic: is located in Iowa and offers a “feminist approach to health care”.There is even a bookstore/feminist space dedicated to this fearless warrior: Red Emma’s Bookstore Coffehouse in Baltimore. I am now planning a trip to the store and look forward to writing a blog post about it. Can’t wait!
Non-web sources used as resources for this piece:
American Experience: Emma Goldman
From Eve to Dawn: A History of Women in the World by Marilyn French.
1freewomyn
wrote on 29 July 2009 at 9:39
Thank you for doing a post about Emma Goldman, Janice. She is absolutely one of my favorite historical figures.
Your question about whether Emma would have been accepted by the suffragists is a good one. She herself would not have sought their acceptance. She felt that the struggle for the vote was the wrong fight. She said, “if voting made a difference, it would be illegal.” Goldman didn’t think that the suffrage movement would “hurt” women’s status, but she also didn’t think it would help, either.
2Janice
wrote on 29 July 2009 at 10:47
I love how radical her views were on things like voting, the use of violence, and relationships.
Emma Goldman is a fun personality to study because of the “wrenches” her views throw into the overall study of feminism. For instance, as you have pointed out, her statements on democracy.
As a pacifist I find her promotion of violence as a means troubling, and wonderfully thought provoking.
Emma Goldman reminds us that even as feminists and women’s studies enthusiasts we need to be reminded that there are many ways to look at every issue, opinion, ideology, and perspective even.