This whole thing (capitalism) smacks of gender

Why gender? Since 1847, leftists have been reading and discussing the communist manifesto. Instead, we’re reading a queer manifesto that aims to abolish gender! Way cooler. Also I think this piece puts everyone on a level playing field :)

As I prefer nicely typeset pieces, I have created PDFs of the readings that I think have a better reading experience :^) btw I’ve timed myself reading and you can think 1 page = 1.5 minutes, but obviously include time for notetaking, research, distractions etc

Link to PDFs of all pieces: https://carlinmack.com/blog/cardinal/week-1/pdfs

Optional – Principles of Communism

Frederick Engels, 1847, 4 pages

If you need a refresher on Communism, I recommend reading this historical source first. Up to #7 if you are using the website.

https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/11/prin-com.htm

Gender Accelerationist Manifesto

Vikky Ramona Winter Storm, 2019, 17 pages

This is our main piece and the only required reading. It is crammed with interesting ideas! From liberal politics to disability to gender, there is a lot to take in. Even though you can read it all at once, I recommend taking your time to digest it

https://deathpigeon.github.io/the-gender-accelerationist-manifesto/the-manifesto.html

Optional – Marxism and Transgender Liberation: Confronting Transphobia in the British Left

Written collectively at Red Fightback, 2020, 15 pages

If the manifesto has you itching for more, I recommend this piece detailing what we know about early gender roles. PS Red Fightback looks really cool.

https://redfightback.org/read/transphobia_in_the_left#class-origins-of-gender

Thinking Points

• Do you agree with the ideas in this piece? Do you agree with gender abolition?
• The nuclear family is a very recent invention: a mother and a father raising kids in a house of their own. How necessary was this invention to the spread of capitalism?
• Was the discussion of gender the most interesting idea in this piece for you?