Lineages of Workers Inquiry in the U.S.

The 1970s saw a burst of working-class struggle in the United States. In a moment of crisis, workers responded with courage and determination to fight back. A wave of strikes and rank-and-file rebellion led a number of feminist scholars and activists to investigate, contextualize, and broadcast this activity. Some engaged in oral history, others in participant observation by obtaining jobs in different industries. They asked crucial questions about what the meaning of class relationships, the connection between historical memory and ongoing struggles, and the significance of social reproduction in analyzing exploitation and resistance.

In our present, as younger generations enter the labor movement through union drives, salting, strike support, and other paths, this body of research and action offers valuable lessons.

With: Ann Bookman, Gail Hershatter, Vicki Ruiz, Pat Zavella

Moderator: Patrick King

OCTOBER 20, 2026 | 6 PM-8 PM
COWELL RANCH HAY BARN
94 RANCH VIEW RD, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95064