Politics: Radical Lesbian Feminism

During the late 70s and the 80s, I was very identified with (radical) lesbian feminism. The patriarchy must fall!  (I still feel that way especially in view of our current regime)
This actually produced a fair amount of angst. I was to disavow my male-ness? I found strength, solace and community with strong, competent and loving "women-identified-women". 
I wore more hippy-type clothes, and A LOT of purple! Women's music (music about being strong women loving other women) became more available and popular, and I had found my place! 
We went on a lot of camping trips, and played a lot of softball and other sports in college and after.  An amazing community. Then once in a womens' group at a fabulous women's bookstore in Palo Alto, a trans-woman showed up.  Trans phenomenon was rare in the 1980s. She was the epitome of woman-identified.  But I was a bit taken aback. After enjoying the benefit of growing up male, did [she] they deserve to be among us?  Well, yes as it turns out. But of course! She was fleeing what she knew to be a trapped, power-based, privileged gender to be with gentle, compassionate, loving sisters.  It never occurred to me that one day I might identify as transgender, because I would never, ever, want to join the patriarchy. Long live the MATRIARCHY!!!!   
Demonstrations and drum circles.  Michigan Women's Music festival! New England Women's Music festival, California.......and so on.  What an amazing time.  We had the will, and the energy, but not a seat in Congress.  It has taken until now and the #metoo movement, and other movement against sexism, racism, and oligarchy, to resume the energy that we felt back then. 

Comments

  1. Laura BarnesAugust 4, 2018 at 6:09 PM

    What a mind blow - to go from distancing yourself from males to acknowledging your own maleness ...

    ReplyDelete

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