Economic Inequality in Feminist Poetry

Many feminist poets have addressed the systemic inequalities tied to class, exposing the vulnerabilities of working-class and marginalized communities. Muriel Rukeyser's The Book of the Dead confronts corporate exploitation and its human cost, weaving oral histories of labor struggles into a tapestry of resistance. Audre Lorde's Power starkly juxtaposes violence against Black communities with the privileges of the elite, underscoring how race, gender, and class compound oppression. Similarly, Adrienne Rich's Diving into the Wreck critiques economic hierarchies while centering the silenced labor of women and queer individuals, framing survival as an act of defiance.

Labor Rights as a Feminist Concern

Labor rights have long been a feminist issue, as poets highlight the intersections of workplace exploitation and gendered expectations. Martin Espada's The Latinos of Motley County celebrates immigrant workers' resilience while condemning capitalist greed, blending rage and hope in equal measure. Patricia Smith's The Boss's Answer vividly renders the erasure of Black workers' dignity, using fragmented language to mimic systemic exclusion. Diane di Prima's Revolutionary Letters merges anarchist ideals with feminist praxis, urging collective action against exploitative labor systems, particularly for women in precarious jobs.

The Intersection of Class and Gender

Poets confront how class shapes women's lives, from domestic labor to systemic neglect. June Jordan's Poem for South African Women links global anti-imperialist struggles with the gendered burdens of poverty, while Chrystos's work exposes the violence of colonialism and capitalism against Indigenous women. Mary Oliver's Wild Geese-though often misread as solely spiritual-subtly critiques the erasure of working-class women's labor, suggesting belonging in a world that demands their invisibility. These works reveal how sexism and classism intertwine, especially in the lives of women of color, disabled individuals, and LGBTQ+ communities.

Key Poets Bridging Class and Feminism

Audre Lorde remains pivotal, insisting that feminism must confront class and race or risk irrelevance. June Jordan's essays and poems ground radical politics in everyday survival, while Bhanu Kapil interrogates migration, labor, and trauma through experimental forms. Younger poets like Hanif Abdurraqib and Morgan Parker continue this tradition, blending memoir and critique to explore Black womanhood in a capitalist landscape. Their voices ensure that feminist poetry remains a site of urgent, material resistance.

Conclusion

Feminist poetry addressing class inequality amplifies stories of resilience and rebellion, challenging movements to broaden their scope. By centering the margins, these works insist that liberation cannot be singular-it must be intersectional.