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Modern feminism increasingly benefits only a small class of professional women. There is no reason to sacrifice everyone else's happiness for their sake.Mary Harrington shows that women's liberation was less the result of moral progress than an effect of the material consequences of the Industrial Revolution. We've now left the industrial era for the digital age, in which technology is liberating us from natural limits and embodied sex differences. This shift may benefit the elites, but it also makes it easier to commodify women's bodies, human intimacy, and female reproductive abilities.Feminism has been captured by well-off white-collar women, who use it to advance their own economic and political interests under the pretense that these are the interests of all women—all the while wielding the term like a club against anyone, male or female, who dissents.Feminism against Progress is a stark warning against a dystopian future in which poor women become little more than convenient sources of body parts to be harvested and wombs to be rented by the rich. Progress no longer benefits the majority of women, and only a feminism that is skeptical of it can truly defend their interests in the twenty-first century.

Book Title: Feminism against Progress

Author: Mary Harrington

Genre: Non-Fiction, Feminism, Social Theory

Synopsis:

"Feminism against Progress" is a thought-provoking and challenging critique of the mainstream feminist movement. Author Mary Harrington argues that the focus on individual empowerment and career advancement has come at the expense of the collective progress of women and society as a whole. Harrington contends that the relentless pursuit of economic success has led to a culture of individualism, competition, and burnout, which is detrimental to women's well-being and undermines the fight for gender equality.

In this book, Harrington delves into the historical roots of feminism and traces its evolution from a collective movement focused on social transformation to a neoliberal ideology that emphasizes personal achievement and upward mobility. She argues that this shift has resulted in the cooptation of feminism by corporate interests and the state, leading to policies and practices that benefit a small elite at the expense of the majority of women.

Harrington also critically examines the concept of "progress" itself, arguing that it is a narrow and misleading measure of societal advancement. She suggests that the pursuit of economic growth and technological advancement has come at a great cost, including environmental degradation, social inequality, and the erosion of community. She calls for a redefinition of progress that prioritizes human well-being, social justice, and ecological sustainability.

Key Themes:

• Critique of mainstream feminism
• The impact of neoliberalism on gender equality
• The problem with the concept of "progress"
• The need for a new feminist movement focused on collective action and social transformation

Call to Action:

Harrington concludes "Feminism against Progress" with a call to action for a new feminist movement that is rooted in solidarity, cooperation, and a commitment to social justice. She urges readers to challenge the dominant narratives of progress and individualism and to work towards a more just and sustainable world for all.