Women Workers' Education, Life Narratives and Politics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction: Politics, Geographies and Histories in Workers’ Education

   • Maria Tamboukou

   Pages 1-17

3. Assemblages of Institutional Histories and Life Narratives

   • Maria Tamboukou

   Pages 19-67

4. The Self as/in Dialogue

   • Maria Tamboukou

   Pages 69-111

5. Ethics, Aesthetics and Politics in Women Workers’ Education

   • Maria Tamboukou

   Pages 113-153

6. Visual Technologies and ‘other archives’

   • Maria Tamboukou

   Pages 155-189

7. Conclusion: The Adventure of Women Workers’ Education

   • Maria Tamboukou

   Pages 191-202

8. Back Matter

   Pages 203-220

   PDF

This book highlights the catalytic role of workers’ education in mobilizing political activism and women’s involvement in labour struggles and politics. Through a comprehensive study of the gendered aspects of workers’ education it explores the intellectual lives of women workers. Drawing on the letters and papers of Fannia Mary Cohn, a prominent figure in the US garment industry’s trade union movement, it discusses and further theorizes the importance of gender as an analytical category in the forceful interaction of labour, education and migration histories. The significance of the visual turn in feminist narrative analytics is considered and the book puts forward a compelling case for the contribution of writing working women in the intellectual and cultural life of the twentieth century.

• Feminism
• Learning
• Pedagogy
• Activism
• Trade Union
• Writing
• Gender
• Fannia Mary Cohn

“Tamboukou’s fascinating, thought-provoking book makes an invaluable contribution to the field of gender and feminist studies by identifying and documenting women workers’ neglected role in the history of the labour movement. Women’s Workers’ Education, Life Narratives and Politics will be of special interest not only to scholars in feminist history and gender studies but also to those interested in labour studies and labour movements, the history of unions, social activism, the sociology of labour, and pedagogy.” (Aggeliki Sifaki, Gender and Education, November 29, 2018)



“Tamboukou underpins discussion and analysis with other sources that provide signposts to those who wish to know more about women workers’ lives, education and politics in an international setting. The book’s contribution to both gender and workers’ education is quite substantial. The book is an excellent and informative read.” (Martyn Walker, History of Education, 2018)

• School of Law & Social Science, University of East London, Docklands Campus, London, United Kingdom

  Maria Tamboukou

Maria Tamboukou is Professor of Feminist Studies at the University of East London, UK, and co-editor of the journal Gender and Education. Her research focuses on philosophy and epistemology in the social sciences, feminist narrative analytics, and archival research. She has published widely on feminist and cultural studies, and is the author of Sewing, Writing and Fighting: Radical Practices in Work, Politics and Culture. 

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