As various versions of the Women's Bill of Rights are moving through state legislatures, it is time to revisit the problems with this model legislation.
While I frequently don't agree with much of WoLF's work or strategies, I think it's overdoing it (to say the least) to lump WoLF with the conservative groups you've done so much work to investigate. I share your concern about the risks of working wiith conservative groups, but your condemnation of WoLF and WDI-USA as groups that are part of that conservative movement is both untrue and unnecessary. Such an ad feminam (guilt by limited association) attack on the many various feminists working to protect women's sex-based rights, even those you disagree with, doesn't do you any credit and renders les persuasive your position on the Women's Bill of Rights. It's all very sad and unproductive.
It’s not “overdoing it” to connect Wolf with right-wing Christian nationalist groups. Those connections are real. They accepted money from Alliance Defending Freedom early on, fracturing the initial organization, more recently accepted another $50k (that we know of), and continue to write numerous amicus briefs for ADF cases as this guest post, written by a lawyer, documents: https://katherinemacosta.substack.com/p/wolf-and-adf-whats-a-radical-feminist
ADF is pernicious when it comes to women’s rights. ADF Wrote the model bill that was at issue in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health, and wrote an amicus brief for the case that overturned Roe. Moreover, ADF, a Christian nationalist organization, is working a legislative strategy to undermine the separation of church and state. (See Katherine Stewart’s The Power Worshippers). They don’t just file random cases. So Wolf writing amicus briefs for ADF, thinking feminists might get some crumb out of it, are supporting ADF’s overall anti-woman legislative strategy. How any erstwhile “feminist” organization can have anything to do with them is beyond me.
And “guilt by limited association” is not my argument and never has been. I have argued over and over that the radical right does not have the same critique of gender that we do. “Gender ideology” for them encompasses feminism, gay and lesbian rights, as well as transgender ideology- and they mean to roll back all three. My argument is that these different goals are reflected in jointly produced law and policy, such as the Women’s Bill of Rights co-produced by Wolf and Independent Women's Voice.
Moreover, these rw organizations, are far more powerful, well-funded, and connected (they are part of the Council for National Policy), and so no “equal” partnership can be created with them. Their goals are going to dominate.
Some of my work that elaborates on the above:
Fourteen minute video from a webinar I did with other lefty feminists; a presentation on when coalitions of groups with disagreements on some issues can work and when they can’t, including discussion of the Women’s Bill of Rights.:
RE “doing me any credit” - I have come to believe we are in for a period of right wing Christian nationalist authoritarianism. I don’t know that we’re going to be able to turn it back at this point. So depressing, but I feel I can at least hold my head up and remember that I spoke out loudly and frequently against feminists working with groups that are accomplishing these Christian nationalist goals.
While I frequently don't agree with much of WoLF's work or strategies, I think it's overdoing it (to say the least) to lump WoLF with the conservative groups you've done so much work to investigate. I share your concern about the risks of working wiith conservative groups, but your condemnation of WoLF and WDI-USA as groups that are part of that conservative movement is both untrue and unnecessary. Such an ad feminam (guilt by limited association) attack on the many various feminists working to protect women's sex-based rights, even those you disagree with, doesn't do you any credit and renders les persuasive your position on the Women's Bill of Rights. It's all very sad and unproductive.
It’s not “overdoing it” to connect Wolf with right-wing Christian nationalist groups. Those connections are real. They accepted money from Alliance Defending Freedom early on, fracturing the initial organization, more recently accepted another $50k (that we know of), and continue to write numerous amicus briefs for ADF cases as this guest post, written by a lawyer, documents: https://katherinemacosta.substack.com/p/wolf-and-adf-whats-a-radical-feminist
ADF is pernicious when it comes to women’s rights. ADF Wrote the model bill that was at issue in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health, and wrote an amicus brief for the case that overturned Roe. Moreover, ADF, a Christian nationalist organization, is working a legislative strategy to undermine the separation of church and state. (See Katherine Stewart’s The Power Worshippers). They don’t just file random cases. So Wolf writing amicus briefs for ADF, thinking feminists might get some crumb out of it, are supporting ADF’s overall anti-woman legislative strategy. How any erstwhile “feminist” organization can have anything to do with them is beyond me.
And “guilt by limited association” is not my argument and never has been. I have argued over and over that the radical right does not have the same critique of gender that we do. “Gender ideology” for them encompasses feminism, gay and lesbian rights, as well as transgender ideology- and they mean to roll back all three. My argument is that these different goals are reflected in jointly produced law and policy, such as the Women’s Bill of Rights co-produced by Wolf and Independent Women's Voice.
Moreover, these rw organizations, are far more powerful, well-funded, and connected (they are part of the Council for National Policy), and so no “equal” partnership can be created with them. Their goals are going to dominate.
Some of my work that elaborates on the above:
Fourteen minute video from a webinar I did with other lefty feminists; a presentation on when coalitions of groups with disagreements on some issues can work and when they can’t, including discussion of the Women’s Bill of Rights.:
https://youtu.be/wEu4590HpgE?si=VG3fqOafkg_qyWc-
Essay on coalitions; when they work and when they dont:
Frenemies & Feminist Advocacy: Whatever Happened to Women's Liberation?
https://katherinemacosta.substack.com/p/frenemies-and-feminist-advocacy-whatever
Long essay describing my experience with then WHRC, (now WDI USA) and how I came to my position:
Blinded by the Right: Feminist Advocacy & Working with the "Pluto-Theocracy"
https://katherinemacosta.substack.com/p/blinded-by-the-right-feminist-advocacy
RE “doing me any credit” - I have come to believe we are in for a period of right wing Christian nationalist authoritarianism. I don’t know that we’re going to be able to turn it back at this point. So depressing, but I feel I can at least hold my head up and remember that I spoke out loudly and frequently against feminists working with groups that are accomplishing these Christian nationalist goals.
Thanks for listening.