Separatist feminism

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Separatist feminism is a form of feminism that does not support heterosexual relationships due to a belief that sexual disparities between men and women are unresolvable. Separatist feminists generally do not feel that men can make positive contributions to the feminist movement and that even well-intentioned men replicate the dynamics of patriarchy.<ref>Sarah Lucia Hoagland, "Lesbian Ethics."</ref>

Author Marilyn Frye describes separatist feminism as "separation of various sorts or modes from men and from institutions, relationships, roles and activities that are male-defined, male-dominated, and operating for the benefit of males and the maintenance of male privilege--this separation being initiated or maintained, at will, by women."<ref>Marilyn Frye, "Some Reflections on Separatism and Power." In Feminist Social Thought: A Reader, Diana Tietjens Meyers (ed.) (1997) New York: Routledge, pp. 406-414.</ref>

Separatist feminism is controversial both inside and outside the feminist movement, and within the feminist movement only a small number of women advocate separatism. These women usually choose to live either in celibacy or lesbian relationships (see lesbian feminism) in order to escape what they see as a patriarchal society. Some of these arrangements are permanent while others are viewed as a "first step" period to enhance personal growth.

1 Lesbian separatism
2 Controversy
3 Noteworthy separatist feminists
4 References

[edit] Lesbian separatism

Lesbian separatism is a form of separatist feminism that may incorporate queer nationalism and political lesbianism.

Lesbian separatism has inspired various works of lesbian science fiction, depicting, in the future, what separatist feminists would see as "utopias" in which all men have died out and advances in reproductive technology have eliminated the need to have men for human reproduction. John Varley's novel Wizard depicts such a "coven" of lesbian separatists who live in a space habitat at L2.

The Aristasia community is one attempt at creating such a scenario by creating a world of only women, where there are two "sexes" (blonde and brunette). The Aristasia community is not only a subject of fiction, but also a way of life lived by the few women who take part in it.<ref>A Traveller’s Guide to Aristasia</ref> Unlike many in the lesbian separatist movement, Aristasia accepts and celebrates the traditional idea of femininity.<ref>Old New Religiousness: The West's forgotten cultural heritage, ed. Mette Buchardt and Pia Böwadt (Copenhagen: Anis, 2003), pp.139-51 [1]</ref>

Lesbian separatism is frequently associated with Dianic paganism.<ref>Empowering the Goddess Within, by Jessica Alton</ref><ref>Goddesses and Witches: Liberation and Countercultural Feminism, by Rosemary Ruether</ref>

[edit] Controversy

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Separatist feminism is highly controversial, and is frequently a subject of dispute, even within the feminist movement itself. Many people find that the beliefs of separatist feminists run counter to the many of the original goals of feminism, and instead of seeking to create equality, attempt to establish a female-centric and female-dominated society in which men are subjugated and misandry is brought into the mainstream.^{[citation needed]}

Some extreme separatist feminists advocate that all men should be killed. Julie McCrossin quotes "dead men don't rape" and "kill them in their cots" as slogans of extreme lesbian separatists.<ref>Women, wimmin, womyn, womin, whippets - On Lesbian Separatism, by Julie McCrossin,</ref> Valerie Solanas's SCUM Manifesto suggested that it was the job of females to "destroy the male sex." It is unclear whether or not these statements were to be taken at face value, but many find these demonstrations of hate speech and misandry extremely troubling.^{[citation needed]} Solanas in particular attempted to act out the violence she wrote about; despite denials that her statements were meant to be taken seriously, she did in fact fire shots at several men, including the artist Andy Warhol.

Critics of feminism sometimes describe women-only events and organizations as "separatist." While organizations restricted to or geared towards only women are separatist, they may not carry the extremist ideologies and highly controversial ideas embodied in separatist feminism.^{[citation needed]}