Born: 1937
Died: 1991
Biography:
Margaret Maggie Lowe Benston (1937–1991) was a professor of chemistry, computing science, and women’s studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She was a respected feminist and labour activist, as well as a founding member of the Vancouver Women’s Caucus, the Euphoniously Feminist and Non-Performing Quintet, Simon Fraser University’s Women’s Studies Program, and Mayworks. For thirty years, Benston worked locally, nationally, and internationally, writing articles, giving speeches, and lobbying politicians on behalf of the women’s and labour movement. She made significant contributions to both academia and activism, dedicating her life to promoting equality and justice.
Margaret Benston’s academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in chemistry and philosophy, followed by a PhD in theoretical chemistry from the University of Washington in 1964. After completing her doctoral studies, she worked as a post-doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin. In 1966, Benston joined Simon Fraser University as a charter faculty member in the Department of Chemistry. While she initially focused on her scientific career, Benston later became one of the key figures in the establishment of the Women’s Studies program at the university in the mid-1970s.
Throughout her life, Margaret Benston was recognized as a prolific author and influential scholar. Her works, such as Infrared Spectroscopy in The Annual Review of Physical Chemistry and New Force Theorem in The Journal of Chemistry and Physics, showcased her expertise in the field. However, it was her groundbreaking 1969 essay, The Political Economy of Women’s Liberation, that solidified her status as a prominent figure in feminist academia. This essay, one of the first Marxist feminist critiques from a Canadian perspective, laid the foundation for feminist discussions in the 1970s, using a Marxist framework to analyze the oppression of women. Its impact extended far beyond Canada, as it was translated into multiple languages and featured in influential feminist publications.
In the 1980s, Margaret Benston’s research interests expanded into computer science. She made a significant career shift and received a joint appointment in the Women’s Studies and Computing Science departments at Simon Fraser University. This interdisciplinary approach allowed her to explore the relationship between computerization, women, and work. It was during this time that Benston introduced the concept of women as a reserve army of labour, emphasizing the manipulation of women in the workforce due to their responsibility for the reproduction of labor power. She argued that women’s domestic and wage labor were indispensable to capitalist production and that true integration of women into wage labor would require a transformation of both forms of labor and an overhaul of the capitalist system. Benston’s ideas sparked international debate and led to the recognition of the domestic labor debate as a significant feminist issue.
Beyond academia, Margaret Benston was deeply involved in activism and held leadership positions in various feminist organizations. She was a founding member of the Vancouver Women’s Caucus, which fought for equitable representation and advocated for women’s rights in the region. Additionally, Benston played a vital role in the formation of the Euphoniously Feminist and Non-Performing Quintet, a collective that used music and performance as a means of feminist expression. Her dedication to women’s rights extended to her involvement in the establishment of Simon Fraser University’s Women’s Studies Program and Mayworks, a festival celebrating the contributions of workers in the arts.
Tragically, Margaret Benston’s life was cut short by cancer on March 7, 1991. Her impact on academia and activism, however, remains significant to this day. She left behind a legacy of rigorous scholarship, powerful advocacy, and a commitment to dismantling oppressive structures. Through her groundbreaking work, she challenged societal norms, paved the way for future feminist theorists, and played a vital role in shaping women’s history.