POLITICAL STRATEGIES AND FEMINIST CONCERNS IN THE UNITED STATES AND FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY: CLASS, RACE AND GENDER.

The article discusses the political strategies and feminist concerns in the U.S. and Federal Republic of Germany. Although feminism as a social movement has a long and diverse international history the difference in perspective and political strategy between countries have rarely been examined in detail. Nonetheless, the meaning feminism has and the nature of its impact in individual nations will reflect very specific historical developments and political cultures. Despite some common concerns, the way the women's movement organizes and issues it makes central vary from country to country depending on the political tools and opportunities available in each setting. The particular focus of this paper is on legacies of race and class politics for struggles over gender today. Race politics has brought issues of equality to the fore in the U.S., while the historical struggle of feminists to find an autonomous voice apart from the socialist party has distinctively shaped the politics of feminism in the Federal Republic of Germany.