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associated with the war [World War II] had long been under way—including new roles for women.”5 Arguably, for a lengthy period of time, unionism and feminism were, if not interchangeable, at least highly complementary of one another. Genora Dollinger was what sociologist Nancy A. Naples calls a “center-woman,” a person who plays key roles in “linking . . . members of a community to one another.”6 This talent worked both ways because she was equally at home with the top echelons as well as the humblest workers. This ability was significant both in labor and feminist activities and the connecting of the two. Later in her life, Genora played important roles in many different communities in addition to labor and feminism, including civil rights, justice for schoolteachers, world peace, and politics. Her reputation as a center-woman caused her to be much in demand from many organizations of varied objectives.

After the dramatic events of 1937, Genora Dollinger spent the rest of her life (she died in 1995) supporting one Socialist cause after another: Trotskyism, social welfare, reform movements, and work with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She was a professional reformer, looking for one cause after another in which to become involved. She was not, however, a flitter jumping from one reform movement to another, without serious motives behind the moves. Reform movements in which she participated were always in the context of Socialism, first with the Socialist Party and then as a member of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP). For the last forty-two years of her life, however, Genora was not a member of any political party, remaining a freelance or independent Socialist, meaning that all national and international problems to which she addressed herself had to be within the framework of Socialism. While an actual member of the Socialist Party and especially the SWP, she was required to take instructions from her leaders. At their behest, she stayed in Detroit after World War II, though it meant lengthy separations from her husband, Sol Dollinger. The leadership let it be known in no uncertain terms that it valued party advancement and successes more than family values. One may ask if there is such a thing as an independent Socialist, or if the phrase is oxymoronic. The answer is no, because philosophies like Capitalism, Communism, and Socialism can be approached on several different levels and from numerous directions. Within the framework of Marxism existed Stalinist Socialism and Trotskyist Socialism, and within these two major camps were many different sects. It was entirely reasonable for Genora Dollinger to be an independent Socialist. Differences of opinion do not necessarily reflect differences of principle.

Unlike most of her male counterparts, she had to balance all the conflicting dimensions of labor, feminism, civil and human rights, and Socialist activities. She was a wife, a mother, a homemaker, and an assembly line worker, as well as an ideologue, and in all these roles she was like almost every other woman who has ever hit the campaign trail, so to speak. It was, after all, in the UAW as well as GM, a man’s world, and she and women like her made the extra efforts required to be a part of the process. Genora was a pioneer in founding the EBs; she gained a reputation from the sit-downs of 1937 and, as a result, was invited to join reform movements, particularly those dealing with unionism and feminism, or she blatantly intruded herself into the process. Like other organizations, the EBs adapted verses to songs—some well-known, others not—that tended to symbolize their ambitions and intentions. This one was sung to the tune of “Marching Through Georgia”:

The women got together and they formed a mighty throng

Every worker’s wife and mom and sister will belong.

They will fight beside the men to help the cause along,

Shouting the Union forever.7

Genora was never passive: she would be a part of the action—even if she had to become strident.