Love and Politics Radical Feminist and Lesbian Theories Carol Anne Douglas” ‘Helsingin yliopisto Keistiina-instiraut ism co press San Francisco(Copyright © 1880 by Carol Anne Doudas. Library of Congress Cataloging Douglas, Carol Anne lowe and pots radial feminist and lesbian theories / by rol Ate Dis, Publication Data inches bibographiealreferenes, ISBN 0-910385-180 : — ISBN 0:910088-17.0 (pic) 1.-Feminism—Phiosophy. 2, Lasbianism 3. Radel. Lm, HQI206.D67 1090 3065 42°01 ae20 04218 er ism press, ine. PO. Box 12447 San Francisco, CA 94112 ” Ale Grown, and-Grace Atkinson, for person fo reprint ‘Also, thanks to he fllowing authors and publishes For Mary Daly, Copy 17S by Mary Daly, reprinted by permission of Copyright © 180 by Janice Rayrnond, reprinted hy pean of eacon Pron. Prom Tz POLIMCSOP REALITY, Copy © 184 by Maryn Fre, opened by permission of The Crossing Pros, Prom SEXUAL FOLMICS Copy o 100 by Kate Milt, reprinted by WOMB, Copyrigto 1075 by Rayra Hele, reprinted by pelsion bf Moothiy Review Poundaton. From RHE DIALECTIC OF Sex, Conyritt © 1970 by Shulamah Firestone, repr hy pean of Wilian oerow & Ga Prom OP WORAS Hoy, Copyright ©1926 Advlenne Heh opted y permission of WW. Noon & Co. From gon, unaD AMD PORTRY, Copyright© 1880 hy Adrienne Hck, eprint ty permiion of WW Norton Co. rom THE FIRST SEX, Copyright 171 ty Eber Gold Dav eprint ty perma ‘the Putsam Poblshing Group, From THE SUCOND SEX, Copyright © House: From WOMANS WOT, Copyright© 1981 by Lisa Leghorn and Katherine Parker, repented by permson of Routed & Kogan Paul Prom AUN um wit, Copyright 195 y Sean “rowarser, epred by penton of Son & Shuster. From THE POLES O# REPNODUCTION, Copyright© 1B by Mary en, ‘epvined by permission of Unwin Hyman Ld otTable of Contents Introduction Part One What is Radical Feminism?.. sical Analysis (4) — Clase and Race (15) Is Feminism for AM Women’ (16) — Methods in Feminist Theory (18) — Diverse Theories 2). 2 The Sources of Feminist Theory. es ‘Aeican-American Movements (25) — Fistral, ‘Anarchism, Marxim (25) — Simone de Beauvoir’ Exstentaiion (28) ~ Anarchism and Feminism (30) — Maris and Radical Feminism 2) — Theory Under Fico 8). Part Two The Origins of Male Dominance 3. Against Gender . Simone de Beauvoir: Ambiguous Cause (4) — Shulaith Firestone: Origins of ‘Othernes' (48) — Differences Not Innate (62) — T-Grace Atkinson: Male Behaviors the Enemy (5) — Female Cukure (60) — tary Mary Daly and Andrea Dworkin (63), Table of Contents a 4, Male Biology as a Problem - -lzabeth Gould Davis: Males as Mutants (85) ~fl Jobson: ‘Separate Speces (07) — SCUM: Man, the Incomplete Female (68) — Man: The Violent Age (1) — Away rom Arwogyny (72) — Androgen and Aggression (72) —Susan Cavin: Too ‘Many Men (18) — Womar the Natural (78) — Mary Daly ‘More on Sex Difference (7). 5. Men and Women: Same Species ......-.+.+.-+-88 Cultural Does Mean Biological (88) ~ Biology 23 Cree tivity (00) — Original Harmony (21) — Woman: A Bargain ‘Commacity (92) — Woman the Artie (86) — Beauvoir and Scarcity (98) ~ The Biological and the Social Interact (88) story: Cycle or Progress (102) ~ Can the Oppressed Oppresst (106). Part Three Love, Sex, and Sexuality in Radical Feminist Politics. 6. Love: Can it be Good? cere 09) Beauvoir: From Fawed to Authentic Love (10) — Beauvoir: Institution of Intercourse (118) — Firestone: Men Can't Love (116) — Atkinson: Loves for Vieums (118) — Pro-Lowe Radical Feminists (121) ~ Only Lesblans Can ove (124) — Love as 2 Political Bor, ora Friendship (126) ~ The Maternal Model 29, 7. Sex: Willi Exist After the Revolution? ........ 180 Intercourse ffor Men (130) — Sex Drive to Disappear (131) = Celibacy 38 an Option (1),st Love and Politics 8. Lesbianism as a Politics 137 Negative Perceptions af Lesbanisn (199) — Atkinson (00 lesbianism (140) — Lesbian Sell-Defnition (143) The Lesbian: Woman Prime or Beyond Woman (149) = Criticism of ‘Lesbian Superiority’ (154). 9. The Critique of Heterosexuality sess 186 Lesbian Crtiques (167) ~ Rejecting the Male Model (159) “Anger at Heterosesual Women (18!) — Heterosesuaity 45 Compulsory (82) — Lesbian Invisibility (105) — Con- scious Choice (18) — Heterasexual Feminists React (87) — Changing Sexvaity (172) — Feminists of Color on Sexuality (175) — The Critique Continues (180, 10. Realignment in Feminist Sexual Poli Butch/Femme Relations (188) ~ Sademasochism (87) ‘The Sexual Libertarian Postion (88) — Sexy Roles (190) — Pornography (8) — Response to the Sexual Libertarian Argument (19), 11, Love and Freedom ..... cere 200 Love, Sex Sill Problems (200) — Asking How to Love Well (202) — Female Friendship (206), Part Four Goals, Strategies and Tactics: A Radical Feminist Weakness? ... 12, Whatis the Goal, Anyway? ....... an Beauvoir: Independance (218) ~ Self-Determination ne Integration (218) — Atkinson: Sl-fustiyng Life (216) — Women’s Rule (216) — Lesbians for Self-Determination 217) — Ending the Class (218) — Integrative Feminism cam, Table of Contents a 13, Strategies and Tactics: Taking Power? .........222 Feminist Concepts of Power (223) — Whats ‘Reform’? @25) ‘Alternatives, Not Confrontation (228) — Do Some Tactics Reinforce Male Dominance? (230) — What About Orgao- izing? Downplaying Confronaton (282) —~ The Danger of Male-Defined Poltics (284) — Srateically-Minded Feminists (238) — T-Grace Atkinson (23) —~ Rta Mae Brown on Activism (242) — Changing Sex Ratios as 2 Sirategy @45) — Nurturing as Strategy and Goal 247) 14, Separatism: When and How Long? «+++. +260 Temporaty Separatism (260) — Lesbian Views on Soparatism (252) — Criticisms of Sparatism (255) — Barbara and Beverly Smith on Separatsm 258) — Bernice Johnson Reagon: There is No Hiding Pace...’ (200) — Continuing Reatfemation of Separatsm (281) — Syecossive Waves of Separatist (283) — The Separatist” Ansi-Crtique 213) — Janice Raymond's Synthess (265) — Coalitions (206) Both Separatsm and Coaftons (287) — Coalitions with Whom? 208) — What Isues are Feros? (270) Responding tothe 180 (273) ~ Nationalism and Inegyatonism (275). 15, Violence and Non-Violence as Tactics 278 ‘Against Violence (278) — Criticisms of Nonviolence (20) Why the Lack of Strategy? 233) ‘16, What We Want, and How to Get There 285 Plural Outcomes (286) ~ Tactics: Linked to Goals? 287) Feminist Sctures: Small Goups ws. Large Organizations (G80) — Can a Radical Feminist Recruit? (295) Conclusion (29) Reference Notes 03 Bibliography 397 Index 358Acknowledgments rote this book without any fnanclal assistance or hel in research. Getting it published hus requled years of work and flor stageering persistence, Thad focused only on this book, ehink the difetes would have Deen overelming Fortunately, have cast my/lot asa fe niet an a mennber ofthe colective that produces he newspaper ‘f/owr backs 20 had much other work that demanded my fvtention Lam proud to sy dat I dont think my work on or ‘ects evr suffered during the yours that Iwas writing this Book. am genuinely soy for feminist. writers who do not belong ‘ax ongoing polite! group, Working in a feria collective des rot preci doing navidual work oth ellective and individual ‘work ae important. am gd tat Ihave the experience of el ing typing. and proofreading other womenix work a wel 8 vwrtng my own | want to thank many individuals who elped ae along he way, nk Virgin Cerello for ving me my et mode! of a Inllectaal woman 1 want to than the members of Boston Female Liberation my frst feminist group. I was the confiet between women in that soup who saw themselves ax netivses (worm of whom were Tesh) and those who say themselves a Teslan/eulra, hat started me thinking about the divisions in the movement that Aiseuss in cls book always kod women in both groupe 08 | thank Tack Dejnies for her long yenr of polities! support an her costa emphasis the importance of wing clearly. fm grateful to Alice Henry for ber continuing sopportive cette ‘fy work, am especialy grateful to Tricia Looter, for her fcourngerent wile Twas trying to find publisher thank ‘Thrace Atkinson, Pauline Bart, and Angela Mes for their levarent i the book T want to thank Lia Quinn fr ber personal and political support turing the straggeover thie boo als chank Daniel Fog tm prose fr his hp ages: ‘ons and willingness to leave the utnateresponabity for content tothe author. {thank Joan B Biren for hoe hel in seeing from among. her wonderal pictures oF use in thls book Most of al thank al of te women in he feminist movement for reading writing and acting umDedication ‘To the collective ofthe feminist newspaper af our backs, who ave me apolitical context for lite ns 8 feminist during the ‘year that [worked on this book Tact Dejanias, Nay Fithian, Adriane Fugh Berman, Farar Eot, Alice Henry, Angela Johnson, Jas Kelly, Denise Kulp, Viekie Leonard, ‘Tricia Lootens, Fran Moira, Debra Rattarman, Jennie Rubs, Lorraine Sorrel, Joanne Stato, ne Thomas, ad uth Walsgrove—and especialy to Vekle Leonard, for politcal and personal friendship. Introduction What is radical feminism? A whole hook soem searcely long ‘enough to demic radial feminism. I shard to fd one single ‘definition thas encompasses vadieal feminlam, and lesbian fem ‘sm, which has sere rom ‘The purpose of this Book i to try to clarity radical feminst theory (or theories) and lesbian feminist theory (or theories), Lo tunderstand the ascumptions behind them, and to discuss how fompatibie some ofthe Meas expressed in thse theories are with fone another, ‘When [say that 1am writing about fens theory, am using the term “thoory" loosely bo mean any ideas or sets of ideas that lay wo explaln the word and suggest ways to change The term “feminist theories” probably mote appropriate than “eminist ‘theory There are many feminist theories. Tare 8 even a wide ‘variety of radical feminist theories, Using We term “theory” rathor Than "theories" could aagget thatthe theories ae i agreement ‘with one another, which often isnot the case, Feminist choo sm the broadest sense, the boy of eas hl by feminine, Femina create feminist theory oF theories as we ‘hing tall end act lthough more conscousl arculated theory ‘ds playa mor part in developing nd spreading eas “Ths study ls confined to feminist theories tat have developed the Unite States, with afew dscusslons of important develop- ‘ments by Prenel feminist thers whose works ae read by North ‘American feminist "am not focusing equally on socialist einism because Lbeieve ‘hae boon more adequately deseribed than radical feminism, by weiter such 25 Zllah Eisenstein, Heid! Hartmann, and. Alon Sng Alo, socialist felsm Is bse coursing. Although “soviet feminine writere vary consideraiy, they tnd to agree ‘more on base principles than do those wo describe themselves as radial fringe o esblan feminists Iw refer to some socialist Feminist cherie whoae works too important too eft out of any general discusion of feminist theory. 12 Love and Politics 1 do not suggest that thoro is some absolte division between radical and Iesban feminists and socialist feninits. There have ‘abeays boon many similarities, andthe theories toa be Becoming snore simiar Probably there are radial feminist who fel cose pplticaly to some social feminins than to some others who Satine themssiver ax radical feminists, (That i, some radical feminiss who do no so women as Inhorendy diferent from men ‘may fee loser to socalist fost than to radical ernie wa ‘dose women a diferent) ‘The word “radia!” means going co the root of things. Poltical radials baleve there is oppression in society and try to look in Faaiealy neo ways to understand this oppression its uses ad ‘ways of ending There ls great disagreement about what erly ‘radical, and that i why there are many kinds of radleals radical Temlniss, anarenis, communis, socialists wity there are ‘many ins of radial feminists Part One of this book dscusces various definions and seals ‘of radical and lesbian feminism, and thoi relationship to soca feainism, Ie looks at some bask assumptions in radial feminist theory and at various ather thooeiey, such aw exisentaliem, ‘marsisi and anarchist, whleh have coatibuted to the eclectic theories of radical femini, ‘Women who define themselves ax radical ferninises and tsblan feminists have a wit variety of views on the args of womens ‘oppression, which are discussed In Part Wo of this book. The i petus for radical feminist developed among women who blleved that women's and men's bilogealdiferences did not deternine porsonalty trite and should not be socially significant. These Teministsfoked forward toa society where all distinctions based ‘on gender would be eliminaced Since then. ether women who so ‘see themes as radical feminists or ex radical lesan ave Suggested that chere may be socially significant biologie fe. fences between women and men—or that, even If there are no Inherent diferencer determining womeris and men's behavior, there Is a culture that has developed among women that has aspects worth presoring ‘Although some of these Meas seem absolutely to contradict each other, in many cases there fst a cles distinction between “ologea” and "non bilogea” cherie. Vutwally al dteusson of ‘womens oppression under patriarchy Inaives some discussion of ological iferences, even Ifthe question is merely wheter men Introduction 3 sasod thoce dilferences in order to galn power over wornen, Thore ‘ss continaam of dracon sx ference. Some ofthe Kas seers to be aythentzed by several feminist choot suggestions in the 1060s thar there i a connection betwoon practice and biology, oF that people's perceptions of thelr boty are an aspect of bolo urwen practice alate what biology T augost cht perspectives on binge difrences, although ‘hey may aoc feminists perceptions of oer politcal issues, are hot ia thetasives adequate information to predict a given fem ‘lat oer political ideas 0 ations Radical wn lesan feminists also havea wide range of ous on love and sexuality, whieh are diseussed in Part Three. An early ‘radical feminlst fos on love a = means of enslaving women Dy men oF as a destructive delusion gave way to a dieussion that Focused more onthe yolks of sexuality than on love. Radical and Teabian feminists have advocated as most Ierating for women everything from eelbaey, heterosexual monoganiy, to bisext ‘ty, to lesbian monogamy, to multiple lesbian partners Lesbian feminists have cred th compulsory nature of heterosexuality in parrarehal societies, Some celbste and lesbian feminists have ‘crite hetororensl women wt cllaborators in patriarch, ard Some heterosexual feminists have replied that they don't want vo be tad what to do even by other feiss In ee 1980s, dvsions over sexuality within the ferns move rent shifted from a lesbian /hecerosexual spl, to a new divide those who fous on ari ofsexualty ait ofte is practiced in fodays society, inctuding pornography, prostitution, most hetero ‘sexual eationships and role-based lesbian relations and those ‘who miggest Chat represion i a preter dager than any kind of texual expression, Thi division crosses heterosexual and lesbian Ties, Some lesbian fominists are writing about love and suggesting ‘hati is possible to love an unoppresive, enticing way. They lave nuggosting that ave and filendship ay be similar nd over Tapping, not diferent Others suggest that even in lesbian rel ‘onshipsinuacy sl brings problems. adie and lesbian feminist ideas on goal, strategies and tactics alu dir onsldersbig, these are iscunaed is Part Four ‘Goals range rom (1) integration with men ina non-se-diferen tated society, to (2) an efalitarian sory with permanent ot4 Love and Politics longezange indepandont power base for women, to (2) separate stele for thase women who want then, vo (4) a sctety where ‘women predominate n numbees and/or poltial power The fist feo goals mentioned are probably more widely held, bot the Second foal Is nce necessarily incompasle with the third goa some fon of soparatis, ‘Some of those differences in yoals may be diferences between tong corm goal, shortterm goals, and steals, For lnstance, ‘eparatinm of women fom men can he ether lng tem fo Shoreterm goal ora strategy. Virtually all radical feminists and Tesbian feminist aecopt It at least as a sigalicant tac for contemporary feminist political groups that is, they believe there ‘should be alt women pola! groups). I the end of patriarchy oF sale dominance it defined as the (pel of radical ard lesbian feminists, then ll radical and esbian Fennists havea similar goal though they may eifer about what truly ft a society without patriarey. Most radical and lesan Feminists wonld go farther and say that a soclety without any form of oppression or power over others i their goa; feminists ‘and lesbians with very diferent polities te that a a goal ‘Grea diferencen over strategy shotld Rot obscure the smi yin goals. ‘Many’ racial feminist theorats have not writen about seatedy ‘and tactics. Analysis of existing conditions and thee origins an, Tees comateny, visions of poole future, have attracted more theorist aitenion than have spectie ways of ending oppression "his does not mean tha no feminists have talked about ation oF {akon action, Theorists and ativets are not always the same sromen, though often they are "The relative lack of strateg thinking, particularly in the 19705 probably hae affected the level of activi, At the same ti, fbstaces to activo, auch as che need to foeus on dramatle personable ehanges resulting trom fesinism, the amount of Criticism often leveled we particular actions, the frustration at ‘eager results oF at having to ght the sate bates repeatedly, dnd the frequency of iaragroup and intergroup movement ton Sons, may parajae strategie and tactical thinking as well as ‘ctor ‘Since the late 1870s ard particulary inthe 1880s here has bem a renuaponce of ells fr action by feminiet writers and of| activism itself. The wsbilly of aetion-orented Women of Color, Introduction 6 the anthpornograply movement, and many diverse feminists! alarm over the Reagan/Bush adininistration age causes of the ‘onewed focus on acts and hence on stratezy’ and tacts. "Tore are, ofcourse, many disgreorents over strategies and tactics Even if there were consensus tha he movement neoded ‘more publ activi, consensus about what form that activism should take samc more emote posal. ‘Neverholes hone are many tetin that a vary of feminists would age are desrabie, even though not everyone wants 1, oF ‘an engage in them. All feminists probably would ngree about the Aesirabiity of clerieat workers organiaig, fr Instance, and can Support that orang in some ways even though not everyone Involved in that actvy. lanyards of work eould be comple sentry, although it true that they “compote” for Feminists “This Dook i an attempt to point out both common ground and dliferencon My hope i that feriniste snd lesbian ean find tore ‘common grown, lnk at dlfeenees honesty, overcome oF Laer late thove polbeal differences shat can be accepted, and deal Tonestly and nonabushely wlth any poienl dilferences that seer unaooeptabl, Inthe 1980, feminists have become more aware of diferences In dalton to eifernces in race, class, ethnie background, and sexuality, the movement needs ifeenets of opinion Tas baok ie & ple for acceptance of plurality of opinions; not for bea tolerance that aatunies that difference in ews are sceeptable Ioente ia done mater, but fora dymaniealversity of ought land action that looks forward to plralty of outcomes as well fe pluralty of tacks 1 outs thas there ean be scketien where ‘women and men ave really equal unless there sre opportunities for women to be womeneentered and separate, doubt that there can be societies where women are fosnes centered and separate unless women have 1 strong pono in mixed Sock fies and mote egalaran personal and pobtieal relatlonshipsPart One What is Radical Feminism?Chapter 1 Defining Ourselves “There ix no one enterion that adequataly deserbes the dior fences between various ferinist perspectives, One might try, a8 BMaygie McFadden docs, to eatgorie feminist. riers by thelr fmphasis on bilogleal differences besween yaen and mea, oF thee reieetion of thse difeences!, but one would thereby Aroup foyer fins who atcribe to very diferent strategie. Tone bases a eategorizaion on "woman centerediess"as Hester Bisen- fein docs? that also enn lead one to group together feminists ‘ho pt forth quite diforeat state. "Ths book wil ok at several diferent aspects of rade! fem ‘lt’ el lesbian feminist’ thought eas on the origins of male dominance m human societies Meas on low and sexuality, and ideas an goal, statebes and tactics. The writings of individual Feminise writers and tendencles of faction nthe feminiat move ment can be understood only Wal of these teas are take into My discussion lines radies fein and lesbian feminism because the Ideas are linked historiealy and epistemoloseally Both ses of ideas assume that men form x clags or cate thal is ‘separate fom women in vetually all sores, Una the elas oF ‘caste of men opprenses Women, and that women car and should fay to change that ‘oth theories are pltcal theories that consider how power Is Aistrued in society or how decisions are mae in soc. Both ‘ie pobical language, such a “oppression” “domination,” and “iberation” (ven writers such at Mary Daly, who donot eare for these terms, choose other term that have a salar meaning he uses terms ka "sadosocety” and "sparking") They use a poled Tramework tha, ke marxsm sees society as died nto classes and: opposes this division, rather than stemeng for or justin Stratifed harmony. oss 10 Love and Politics Another basic area of agreement has boon the Mca thet the ‘omination of one group by another on one lve of sockeye, the fami), asters the practice of dominadion on other levels of oiety (eg, overnament andthe workplace). Mos feminists thus lieve i impossible to ave a society thats personaly author farlan yet poltenly democrat, oF vice verse Most radical nnd lesbian (and soca) fominint ne thelr goal as an etd not only to male domination over women, but to all paters of domina- tion Tiel fermnints didnot lnvent.the idea that the personal was ‘he poltical,Arittie and Confucus thought che personal was Prllial, oo. But for these and subsequent patriarchal ploso- hors hat ean that the fathers contro nthe fay and the Fuler's postion over the people relnforeod each other and that {ie was desea, ‘Within the general outines of radical and lesbian feminist theory, many diferences have developed. Some, but by no means tikmay’beconnseted with the diferences between thase who sce fhemeivos at radical feminists and thase who see themselves as lesan fornia, (Not everyone fo able to mae thls choice. Por {nstance, Tce myself as both) Alesblan feminist nay’ sly be a rascal feminist who soex lesbianiom as an act of resistance ‘anata supremacy and a major element n overthrowing fee lesbian Femi as generically a part of radial feminist, but ‘Soave lesbian feminists ay feet hat such a desigration dos not ‘pat enough ezphasis on lesbianism. "Theve has been a tendency since the development of tesa {eannis for some lesbians wo see radical feminism as subsumed tinder lerbaniem, or sleaply replaced by ebaniam This tendency Ignores the historieal development of radial feminism, the variety ‘of radical feminists (many are not lesbian), andthe varety of Fadia! flat theory or theories “There are many poleal differences that cannot be described Just by using the Words “radeal forint” or "lesbian feminist.” Cereainly not all polite diferences are connected with sextal ‘ety “Although tle book Se eubted "Radical Feminist and Lesbian ‘reoria Ido not think the terms "rade! feminist” or “esbian {eminist” are We most appropriate designation for every single ‘ona of he writers discussed. Some of them donot cal Chomsves radial feminisa” or “esbian feminists" In order to show the ‘ | Defining Ourselves a spectrum of contemporary lesbian thought that intersects with td generally ts apart ofthe feninise movement, Lam including both lesbian feminists who theory is baslealy radical fens 'nd some lesbians who donot we the term edna” to deseedbe thomseves because they Tel the designation “lesbian” stands on Keown, ‘ov wou el very se ies mented “oni” Por inary tone pint ase ety gts tat bs 7 Soa mre sting than rents pe mae meee mc ry seer ets Ses Char 1) One sano an, Chari Makino oso fw ie fos hat hfe ns mem ny beeen eer Sm mon eet t ratet ine’ Frs s etn ‘oul deny emits ech a Mary Dy haw woes in Sgoestagund we mandy oscar sng weer Sonreson, Many the women wor I eal “ee adel {Enis nol ny tat woes wheter eal ‘klwene tenet ae mane tesco oe ht tan ere who do 0 choot 0 sve sort “enue acre thee ah fronme tee tat reste ten of onan women, Ne reery cats tr hn tn ows Speshing vy broly mit be presley here are “snout an estan emit Tee ro col be cate dase rae enn hee ws ars Sito reat ne tsi nthe By ch poe New Yor fae herve Feit, Tekin ay nada chav Slain Prone, Kate late and Gace sen ang ere sr may aed tao ites ateen Peso ler and sr). it ln el init pos toner onthe sma maruncey We od woke wae tis tRbe ye teent and that men eed he iferences ha ‘rit in reprosctn to opres women an fee them ae itor Lean seny eben tied ye os hee Imre omer fave tn wed yo rg awe oo thetind wrth ne ta aon. Nomen mst eon en byt aon and han eam spose Aes in nh tere tm sly neoae trace ewe sronen enn2 Love and Politics ‘te second poston wes developed in the ery 197s oe, alitogh not vay by leans fie woup or psklo, whieh ‘ng be cand the cua annmes? or nde svn fost, hl tha there are gear teense betes en fra meh thn th cases stalin postion maintain Seine ston suet at men re faherently more von than ‘omen’ Non eprodecti capacity ina sd ni ome ofthe cn rade femins seom top Women ‘xperience an iothere has nt boo ene nepuie Deemare women hve deeoped'aeulture tat le separa fom male Coitre and more mrtg, Women ean in toe rom beng wih one anther then wit me, Women ace pot move lined than mon and do sone to arom them, Prtap tere are tome ferences ha shuld be reseed. Sin ofthese women ble tat te oe shold be eesting societies spat om no ech ing the—i a amatriarehal “The appropriate tactic is building separate, ‘Independent Women's communities, not confrontation with men, ankontaton right be sensing nw sae manner 36 Sint a-nation alte thn creating independently, — "Qurewi sem thold some wry ofthese leas nelade asaya, San Gin an aly earate OF course tey iter treaty rom oe another a ay endo contonaion i part Sua intnnee Smee, members of tae groups fr each ther, Members fthetocis-on omen up may el that thon wh ean he ‘Sac or concentrate aneheenny erouparceaege spin eat ingto men rater haw ang on ove inhi Member Sh coront thee soa may fe tat the frum men soup pon te me ays a ara ve olin ete such a demonstrionn, aingy teen they etesnenterting Sernctncy each ou oars hat the member of esha sr0up wil nt beradateuugh Soll "herself havea ass rade foministpouton, Seen Brownie for example sent tied voces that nen re more sent than ome ‘Sot al bin emits old the “Hole aferenos pos cian Chante Banc, fr iat soos Gover fo the Cae run Defining Ourselves 1B Not all radical or lesbian ferns identity with ether group, However, many do tend toward one or th other. Such tendencies ‘often affect wich books and periodicals a woman reads, as well fs which discussions and concerts she attends. Many keep In Formed only of deay developing within thelr own part of the ‘movement Sometimes there itl oveclap between the groups 1m the ety where I Ise, Washington DC, members ofthe ewo ‘ours have atended the same clfurl event Inthe past several oars only when the events have featured Women of Color oF Sewish women. The desire to acknowledge and learn about the ‘oppression of Women of Color and Jewish women is brig Fadlal and lesian feministe of many ethne backgrounds and Aiverse polities closer together plea. The T0808 books by “Women of Colorand Jewish women may be he fist. books in ears that vreully ll members of various movement poltical tender ‘es have rea, Many of us, etn if we are somewhat drawn to one point of view, also have been deeply influenced by some of those who prevent another pont of Vow. I feol quite inoenced by both schools Many writers have tried to develop a sythesis of dierent ‘malo-oviginated theories, such ab freudianism and farxism or ‘mares and existential. I don’ want to attompe another syn- ‘hess of those Meas: I want to know whether Its possible to synthesis S Grace Atkinson's thought and Mary Das without ‘sorting either. want to try to reconele the various, apparently ‘contradictory leas ofthe radical and lesbian feminists who have ioc me T want to learn whether there ls some way that these ‘ferent theoros ore coherent tradition "The comparisons in this book will rot provide a complete analy 1s of the work of any one theorist, but should give a idea ofthe ange of thinking In the feminist movement. Some wrlers work wal safer more than other for is soe of treatment, sce not I fomins weriers have emphasized the kinds of ideas that Cam foingto analyze In particular, the work of Some de Beauvoir is ‘much more than the sum of is parts as discussed In these omparisons. Beauvoir Io being meuded not Decauso she is Dredly a radial feist which may bes matter for debate but because she has been the immediate Inspiration for many rien fein,“ Love and Politics ‘Tue worle of feminist writers howe style Is poetic end is an Inegral part oftheir mereage, such ax Bary Da ls is ikely to lppear ats disadvantage in the sort of point by-poia comparison ‘that xm doing Psychological Analysis ‘Although some sclllst feminists much as Sule Mitel have ‘called radical feminine "psychological in its approach! 1 would ‘suggest that any theory that proposes a pychologeal or indivi Solution tothe problem of women's oppression is not radial Femi nist Ben the ost peycholngial statement by radical forint, the 1000 New York Radical Feminist maniftsto “Poles of "Ha" which say a men oppress women primarily to gain 6 ‘tsactlon, cals for amend tothe sex class eyster und chalenges| ‘the fury an Snatitton, I hus envisions socal and political tins, aot natal ones ‘On the ther hand, the work of feminists sue as Dorothy Dinnerstein and Naney Chodorow" focuses on paychology In a way that many rade feminists think snot real. They tend to "xplaitundesrabie male behavior ab result of treatment within the fam, artical onthe fue ehat women do all mothering” "heir major solution to the problems in the relations between wonten and mien is increased child care by fathers. Sometimes ‘hey imply that having mae active lt eld care is necessary to producing balanced human beings who do not se people deli ated by sex toles-—hardy soliton that offers promise for lesbian mothers Radical feminists such a Pauline Bart® have erie! this ‘eniphasis on prycholbgy ae depolticling. Te treals men as Individuals rather thao a clase and recommends a course of| ‘ction tae wonien ms ake individually rather than collectively, ‘The emphasa on the psychologically injurious effets of the ‘nclear family end to teat women and men as equally injured Dy the sex clas system ‘The appeal that the Dimerstain/Chodorow theory has for many women may be that fe suggests that they ean change the trorld ty tates eral man rather than by engaging in political acti. Defining Ourselves 6 (Chass and Race Many, but not all radical ferns blew Use the oppresion of women by men is the “primary” human oppression in that It ‘ocurred fist nistrlealy she het oppression that an india hhaman being lens about and partepasee In and i the most widespread oppression, ecurring in virtually every human society ‘and placing neaey every human beng in an oppressed or oppres sing Sox casa ‘Virually all radical feminists acknowledge that race’ and economic clas oppreslons algo exist and that they may have | harsher impact on particular individual or group than sex oppression. For stance, radical ferpinists know that Jewlsh ‘women Were not inlnerated by the Nacis just because they were ‘roman, although some aspects of thelr torture may have been iferent fom the toreure a Jewish men. ‘Sox opprotson probably f alway intertwined wih race and class oppression, and women who are oppressed because of cass fr race are oppressed by a particular kind of woman-hating clas sm or racism in aiton to facing the cassis and racism that nen oftheir cass and race experience Sex oppression also may lffet men of oppressed races, when men of oppressing races pe ei thom as sexual threats to their race power, Riel fei hists such as Andrea Dworkne and Catharine A. Mackinnon have alluded to this nterrining of oppressions, but most white ‘aaialfeminat theorlts have not wetten about tin mec deta ‘Some radical feminists and many socialist euinists believe that sex, race and class oppressions are ao intertwined that it makes howense tosay that any of them ix"pelmary” and that focusing on ‘one of thase oppresions as "primary" Is an inst to women Wo fre oppreme by rales classn a well a patriarchy 'A few radial feminist works include class and race in an Integral way. Catharine A. MacKinnon’ study’ of sexual harass rent, for example, shows how class or worzplace dominance and ‘Sexual Narassment are intertwined aspects of pleasure for the ts who demands sexual acta from a female workoe" ‘incsason of race and clase Inthe contemporary feminist movement focuses on white racism i has evolved In western ‘vation and class oppression that har developed under cap falinm, the forms of race and class oppression that prevail in western society and have extended thelr influence over many6 Love and Politics other past ofthe world. A hstorca discusslon might discover Grigin of acim far back in story, whenever human beings fist Desa pereetvng neighboring peoplis as diferent and king and estavng thom, A historical dincwrson rlght deine capitals 35 ‘one for of the eeonomle oppression that, has existed since Roman Delngs fot trted to appropriate other oman beings Tabor, as slaves, servants, subordinates—or wives, A thorough faseussion of economle oppression would need to include eco homie systome in whlch bureaseratie classes control the labor poner of most workers and reap a disproportionate share of the evar “A complex view that includes race and class oppression uo must aecepe that womnen ean reap some benefits from cone tons with men of atlas dominant race and elas, Feminists fasapee about whether women ean be actual members of upper Cats ether white women ean be oppeesors in the same ‘nse that white men ean be, but virtually all would agree that ‘women can pareipate in oppressive Behavior oF that they can enly with an opprenor elas, even Iter sonse of Ment is ‘based on a delusion, 1s Feminism for All Women? ‘Avtough most late 19608 American raiial feminist theorists wore white they assumed that radical enim was theory thal {Could aid te Ineration of women ofall races and classes. The Carlet anthologies seh a Sisterhood és Powerful and Radical ‘Feminism and journals carried articles on eoloized wornen and ‘Nomen in national liberation movements. Worten”In China, Vietnam, and’ Cuba ofen were cited as examples of radical Courage, Early antholoie! and journals aso inclde some, [though not many, artiles on and by Black women in the United ‘States theo in Sisterhood is Power one in Radcat Feminism) ‘Sisterhood te Powerful included one arte hy a Chiewna woman. “The 1068 “Redstookings Manifest," types of women's libers- sion statement In thi regard, 95, Wo Adenuty with all women. We define our est interests that of he poorer most beatalyexpted woman. We rejadaea al ecopeniey rac, euatioal or statis rege tet die u trom other women. Wate decried Defining Ourselves ” ‘to recogniae and elilnace any prejudiees we may have agains. ‘The 1071 “Routh World Manifesto" by Barbara Burris and Katlleen Baery and others sisted that women everywhere Ihave parallel eutanes that ean be a bond beeweon Ue; that hey fon another worl ‘We Monty with women of ll aces, cases, and countries all ‘ver the word he fre ature te Poaeh Word Dy the late 1970, many Back feminists and othor frist of Color were saying that white feminists had not suficlenty Teed ‘upto thle ideal of dealing with ras and ereatng a fennisn by fand forall woven, However, Ink to important to point oat ‘hat radical feminists did at lest start by Cnking ofthe variety ff women and hoping for connections although that was noe ‘cough, ‘AficanAmericas feminist writer Audre Lorde, ta her 1980 open Letter to Mary Daly" polnted out that Women of Color experience an inten form of pariarehal pression, and that fertings by mite feminists aten have not dlscussed this difer- fence speelealiy _Difrenoes expe all women to varios forms and degen of patrlarcal oppretion some of which we share an some of Iihich we donot For instance surely jus kaow that fr no Irie oem inthis country tree an 80% aay rate fom rete cance; thee times dhe numb of unnecessary even {lone hysterestnsles and sterlzains a for Whe women: three ime aa tuany chanees of ug Fapod, murdered or [illest for wee women” ‘Te dilogue between feminists of Clo and white feminlts over definitions of the movement was one ofthe contra features of ‘he movement i the 19603, "Adrien Rich has noted, "The radical feminist elain to idetiy ‘with all women was to undergo sever challenge. To belive thal ‘has right eo identify wih ll worben, to wish deeply and sincerely To do 0, was not enough, ‘Writing this bok raises questions about race and language Using a racial designation to deseibe Black feast ut not 8 ‘white feminist accepes the perspective that people are white Unless otherwise specie, (hat white isthe norm aad other races fare not normal On the Uber and, “Black ferns is aso a8 Love and Politics palltlcl designation that many women have chosen special, Whereas white feminist” no Iam using langage that resto the time docs not designate white eminnts ae nich and docs ‘Monti Back rrinsts, but fam skopicl ofthe impliations of {his langusge and | invite ee reader to question oo. ‘So that whiteness will ot be seen as he nor, T salt nove here that many ofthe women discussed in this bok: are white —in- fluding D Grace Atkinson, Sinone de Beauvoir, Rita Mae Brown, Susan Browneller, Chariot Bunch, Susan Cavin, Mary Daly, Bliabeth Gould Davis, Christine Deiphy, Andrea. Dworkin, Shotamith Firestone, Marilyn Fige, Susan Griff, Sarah Lucia Hoagland, Laurel Holiday, Jl Soston, List Leghorn, Catharine ‘A. MacKinnon, Kate Milt, Janlee Rayrond, Adrienne Rich, Kasaie Saraehd, and Moola Wit am whe, a wel Woman of Color often have chosen to Kentiythemsetves prt sarily by tat ees or by terms sch a “Black feminist," "Black! lesan,” or “Asan feminist rather than using or primey wind term ch radial feminine” or “ei forint” Some have ‘chose polis that stem closer to socialist feminism than radial minis, while others have polities that soom elooer to lesbian feminisn or cael feminism. By including these Women of Color in chapters that foeus on ea! feminist and bia fern, fo not mean to imply that ey all idemtily more elosely with rad- ‘al or lesbian feminiem than socialist fenism, Werle Woo, for Instance, desenibes herslf asa socialist femluist and lesbian However, writings by mary Women of Color, in their focus on personal experience and passionate expression, seem close ‘any wile radical feminist and lesbian feminist wetngs than £9 soci eranit writings. How one choosos to organize materials by Women of Color is sso significant 1 desided to group ideas by Wonten of Color In ack Part n order to ahow, for instance, the wniky of Women ‘of Color In opposing bologieally dterminist theories of origins— tnd, in anoter instance, te varity of Women of Cole's ideas on Sexuality. Another option would have boen to disperse the ‘comments throughout the chapters do noe mean to suggest by fy method of organization that white women and Worten of Color have not dled that ae with eachother Defining Ourselves 19 ‘Methods in Feminist Theory ‘Why am L emphasizing theory a diferent sets of more or ess ‘coherent Mean, infiteneed by other theaeas? Haver radial Teiniss generally sald that gonsciousnene raising was our baie ‘method of learning about the world and that our lives are the ‘nats fox theory? The "Redstocknss Manes sal ei our pron experience a ou fs oat cat | ‘xporionos, athe bade fr an sali of oar common its tion, We cannot rey en existing ieolnges as they are ll Product of mine supreme eutare™ ‘A decade later, saci fominist Naney Hartsock wrote “te practice ofsmal roupconecousnes asin, with ‘nexaminingand understanding experience and on connecting personal experience athe structures that define ou vest ‘larat expe of he method bare sominae sue that so? What role does theory have outside the con: seiousmes raising (©) group? or one thing the + group sind ins membership. Noone cer group nor all e+ groups that have yet existed-—has con- {slned al ofthe varieties of women's experience tha exist the ‘world today Itcan be tse to take what one has learned in the Cr group and go to lean more abost women's Ives, then report bale bo the rest Courting. Books on Toreedprestittion, brautring incest andthe whole range of women's oppression widen our understanding of women's oppression. ‘One of the caries sharp diferences in the movement wast conneeznd with the extent to whieh one ells on consciousness alsing as te busi fr theory. The early radial feminist group edstockingy which ovginated consciousness raising, strongly fmphasized e-rs importance I doesnot seem coincidental that [Redatockings Inset tha what most women would say they ‘want—nonogamoos commited relationships with men—is what they should ge Similarly, what most American workers woo!d ‘ay they want probably would be move respectil oases, shorte hours and higher salaries. Mast people the United States, at fy race—will say what they vant most are improvements In ‘hele imineditscondtions not revolution.20 Love and Politics Some of the early radial feminists Invalved in er did decide they wanted feminist revolution; most of hem, to be sure, had already beon radicals before becoming feminists, Consciousness ‘absing in self mighe not tecessariy have that elec ona women ‘rho was pot already used to thinking of radical set chan, ‘though st would make er more aware of mistreatment ‘Thecry is way of eretching the imagination, of trying to make seneralzations bout our Individual experiences, eying to su Size now the world ean be changed so tht oppressive structures Ste lltinated. TiGrace Atkinson's ate 1060s bean were very Aiterent from Redstackingy eas, in part, Deeuise Atkin ‘emphasize theory more. olaleltheoriaing often is radialixng, The procs of imagin- ing thatthe yor could be diferent and trying to Migue out how to get there destroys apathy and passivity In societies chat have longer and more sgeifeant redial tradiuona than the Unitod States, sueh as France oF Italy, potkical theory pays much Ineger olen poles tan it does Here stress the imaginative aapece of theory bacause marxlsts or some radical forunsts, such as the French writer Chiisine Delpy, have emplasizd ite bast in material realy, in real is thoony scaly also describes whe has no yt taken place, Marx ‘amt je desrbing the world when be wrote about "the diet Torship of the proetariet” and we arent just deserbing What taste when we write about "mint evoltion” or "ein Perhaps few women could Nave imagined ratical or lesbian feminism jus by Looking at our ves unless we had contact with ‘ui! friniat o lebla Taint eas. ‘2 her 1980 hook, Paling Back: Thinking Rinivis, Thinking ‘Back, Atficnt-Amevcan teins theorist Bel Hooks sages tha] feminists to often assume that looking a ou own lives fs enovsh toeabo eto understand our pola suation and provide us va teaten. “To take wotnan to the sas stating pont for potion, ‘roman wh whie-upremacis, captali ptsachy pr ‘ularly mde. sooty contracted, to eMail tee body—{ conse a universeall at taly ators To eke ‘nets woman to the sf ae starting point for polticztion ‘a necesanly rly Defining Ourselves a {ito say] The personal he poll’ [here maybe mo semeeofeonneeton betwen one's person and a larger material Teal no see of what the pleat in this pase, what ‘moet resonaeos the word-perunal—not tho word poiieaL Unsure of te pois each female presumes lowed f the fssonthe personal No neod then eo sear forthe meen ‘ec, stnper ta ay withthe persona, to mae synony ‘ows the personal mad the pal. Many women engaged in feminist movement asumed that escribaganes personal experince ofexploation by hen Was {sbspotin Fan nema sbi ps {Che naming fone experience) with erica understanding of the concrete material realty that lays the groundwork. for personal experenee™ Hot feminist theorsts have not been unerial of theory: ‘TvGrace Atkinson wrote, AIL that have wld far is "hor in the worst sense Te ‘iouees concepts a fact, any one of which, Hf fae, would ‘hallenge what foiowed Cassone that fs atura to human ature to desire eaifacton Cot what about Uwe death wish ted ange) Tine’ that such 2 major cual reorsl is possible ay to radial change te source of idenity fom ‘oterdreted to hiner-direted (What kind of evlalonary theory would be consistent with tha?) T'asaume that hunan Interest of others In categoria! imperative (Where ithe fsldonce for any of ths) Te sone oft many nightates of hina, that seven cone of what cowl count as ei ‘ant change for women, one must beg by Jumpieg ofTone cI ter anoier And t haven even coined, here, how auch ‘hangs could post be implemented Not all feminist theorists nave acknowledged how many a8- ‘sumptions we are making, In a number of radial feminist and lesbian writings, much ls mplet or unstated rather than explic. Wis very dul even to compare and group fist writer into diferent schools, aT have ted co do, bcase sometimes very basic pois, such av the author's Adeus on whether there are thalor inerent differences beeween the sexes, aro nol stated Some radial femlaise and lesbian writers eave their goals, and Pethape their strategies and tates, implicit ater chan explicit.