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Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (1890–1964): Mortal Enemy of Capitalism

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The Palgrave Handbook of Communist Women Activists around the World

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Abstract

This chapter examines the biography of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (1890–1964), the most significant female leader of the Industrial Workers of the World (1907–1916) and the Communist Party (1937–1964) in the United States. It considers Flynn’s formation as a street-corner speaker, her leadership of major strikes, and her experiences fighting political repression. Throughout her life, Flynn sought female role models and found strength in female friendships. As a communist, Flynn insisted on the centrality of Black women’s struggles, sought social support for motherhood, and applauded the establishment of the Women’s International Democratic Federation. Cold War prosecution of communists curtailed Flynn’s ability to pursue feminist objectives. She turned her energies to defending the Party, but she was imprisoned (1955–1957). After her release, she visited the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, where she was hailed as a heroine, and she sought signs that women had found freedom within state-sponsored socialism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. St. John’s University, Queens, NY, USA

    Lara Vapnek

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  1. Lara Vapnek
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Correspondence to Lara Vapnek .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gender Studies, Central European University, Vienna, Austria

    Francisca de Haan

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Vapnek, L. (2023). Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (1890–1964): Mortal Enemy of Capitalism. In: de Haan, F. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Communist Women Activists around the World. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13127-1_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13127-1_23

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-13126-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-13127-1

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