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Original poster

Separatist Feminism - Thread Two

158 replies

LRDTheFeministDragon · 02/08/2011 00:07

A second thread to discuss separatist feminism.

If you clicked on this thread and want to know more, there's a wiki link for the basics here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separatist_feminism

On the previous thread there is more discussion, including links to some articles about existing separatist communities, and some personal experiences from MNers who live in a separatist or partially separatist environment. If you're interested in more discussion of separatism, what it might mean for feminists, and what women's spaces can do for us, please come back and join me so this OP doesn't sit unanswered like a lemon! Grin

Link to thread no. 1 (and kudos to the lovely VictorGollancz who started it all off) here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/1259519-Separatist-Feminism

OP posts:
snowmama · 02/08/2011 08:39

Yes, I think are right SAF.....but I still have 'buts' in my head, I am probably resistant to accepting it is just that!

swallowedAfly · 02/08/2011 08:34

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snowmama · 02/08/2011 08:30

Good to see this discussion continuing. Just caught up with the end of the last one, and I am still struck how a discussion about women only spaces or aspects of living apart from men can a) trigger such vitriol (ref. to last thread only). b) make people assume that the discussion is about creating a female dominated society.

I may be completely off base - and if there more women out there living permanent/or full time separatism please share your experiences - but it feels like that doesn't work for most women.....which makes me wonder why anyone would take issue with a few women living differently to the majority...who does it hurt?

Secondly, it does feel like aspects of separatism can be a useful concept, giving women only spaces - be it socially, domestically or whatever...can be of use/sustenance/provide a domestic space for those whom the traditional hetronormative (still love this expression!) doesn't work...and not as a replacement for whom the traditional set up does work

I am curious since no one is proposing enforced separatism...why would this idea make some so angry?

swallowedAfly · 02/08/2011 07:53

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swallowedAfly · 02/08/2011 07:50

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kickassangel · 02/08/2011 02:13

.

sparky234 · 02/08/2011 02:11

sorry x post

sparky234 · 02/08/2011 02:09

[not all of course]

StewieGriffinsMom · 02/08/2011 02:09

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sparky234 · 02/08/2011 02:09

think "man of the cloth"and paedophillia.

sparky234 · 02/08/2011 02:08

indeed it is.

StewieGriffinsMom · 02/08/2011 02:05

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sparky234 · 02/08/2011 02:04

yep-homosexuality is within monestrys[blind eye]but its frowned upon outside.

StewieGriffinsMom · 02/08/2011 02:04

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sparky234 · 02/08/2011 02:02

sorry-i do appologise-i mean SGM-not SGB

sparky234 · 02/08/2011 02:01

well its not wierd SGB-its patriarchic isnt it.
the whole instatution is patriarchic-this is why one things ok and anothers not.

StewieGriffinsMom · 02/08/2011 01:59

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sparky234 · 02/08/2011 01:55

monks and Nuns have had great power.
its interesting though that entering a monestry or nunnery makes them respected[by some]but a woman who is seperitist/semi seperetist is seen as a wierdo.

jennyvstheworld · 02/08/2011 01:54

Again, I think you're taking a few dubious examples of something and extending it to suit your point. For the most part that is simply not the case.

I actually think you'd argue black was white if it fitted in with your agenda...

StewieGriffinsMom · 02/08/2011 01:50

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jennyvstheworld · 02/08/2011 01:47

SGM Isn't it? Is it? Thanks for that. I'm not sure that monks and nuns would agree with your carefully constructed arguments though.

StewieGriffinsMom · 02/08/2011 01:43

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jennyvstheworld · 02/08/2011 01:40

LRD surely the issue with monastries and convents is that the people have entered them in acknowledgement of their own sins to avoid temptation. That gives them the exact opposite reasoning from a women-only institution established to avoid the sins of men...

I don't have an answer here - I'm simply suggesting that to tear down the walls of one establishment whilst setting up another in its image is rather perverse!

Original poster
LRDTheFeministDragon · 02/08/2011 01:19

That's interesting madwoman - I didn't know any of that, and my mum was one of an (all female) cub scout leader team (they wanted blokes to get involved and finally some dads did, which was nice I think).

jenny - I was referring to refuge from violence, but not necessarily physical violence. I think the emotional aspect is pretty important. I don't think arguing women need women-only spaces purely to keep them away from violent men is any good at all - it's actually offensive, imo, because it suggests the onus is on women to avoid, not men to change. It may be 'refuge' is the wrong word as it suggests fleeing ... but I am not sure what the right word would be! Sanctuary is good, I agree.

I don't know if you were reading the other thread, but something really interesting that came up was that men-only spaces such as monasteries, that have been around for centuries, don't seem to come in for the peculiar mix of criticism and gossip that woman-only spaces do. It seems that women on their own often get very specific and disproportionate responses from society - perhaps that is reason enough to explore the idea?

OP posts:
StewieGriffinsMom · 02/08/2011 01:16

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