The Gentle General: Rose Pesotta, Anarchist and Labor Organizer (American Labor History

by Elaine J. Leeder

This is the first major biography of Rose Pesotta, the organizer and vice president of the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) from 1933 to 1944. After moving to the United States from the Ukraine in 1913, Pesotta became involved in the resurgence of the garment workers' industry, women's labor colleges, and labor activism. While working for the union, she confronted serious opposition as a woman and an anarchist within an all-male bureaucracy.

This book chronicles Pesotta's life while exploring a number of personal political themes. The author examines Pesotta's relationships and friendships as they reflect the issues of gender, power, and sexuality, paying particular attention to her relationships with Sacco and Vanzetti and with Emma Goldman. In the course of this biography, Leeder portrays the inherent conflicts between anarchism and bureaucratic organization and between female consciousness and male-dominated institutions. The book explores the potential for pragmatic activism by social visionaries and offers clear contextual frameworks within which to compare and contrast Pesotta to others in similar historical roles.

Genres: History, Feminism, Labor

212 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Michael C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose Pesotta lived in a time when a woman had to be exceptional to enter the patriarchal world where decisions that affected workers were made. She was an anarchist in practice within the world of labor unions she occupied. As an anarchist, she did not have to state that the power structure of the union was wrong. She fought against the structure both because it excluded women and also because it was corrupt.
When reading this book one must remain aware that what Rose Pesotta achieved was truly remarkable given her background and circumstances.

[David Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important book that rescues Rose Pesotta from obscurity and tells a moving story about her life as an American labour leader and anarchist during the 1920s to 1950s. She was also a friend of Emma Goldman.