Revisiting the intersections between feminism and unionism. The case of Mujeres Sindicalistas (Argentina, 2016-2019)

Abstract

In the last years in Argentina, two events occurred that for several years travelled parallel make ways but that finally found intersection points. They are about the process of union revitalization and the activation of the feminist mobilization cycle. The emergence of Ni Una Menos in 2015 was decisive for the visibility of male violence and the formation of groups that questioned gender inequalities. Likewise, since 2016, women's spaces and groups emerged in union organizations that upset this dynamic. What were the relationships between the cycle of feminist mobilization and the emergence and development of groups of women trade unionists based on the intersectionality between class, work and gender? In what ways have class and gender experiences influenced the formation of women's collectives in the unions? The aim of the paper is to understand the intersection between feminism and unionism, specifically by creating women's collectives in union organizations. Starting from the notions of structural intersectionality and political intersectionality, we inquired about the experience of Mujeres Sindicalistas belonging to the CFT / CGT. The period analyzed is extended between 2016 and 2019. Our argument is that, although there were already women who participated in unions, the novelty of this experience can be found in the establishment of bridges within unionism, as between it and other feminist organizations. In methodological terms, we follow a multi-method strategy, informed by the Grounded Theory.