Radical lesbians

The Radical lesbian (lesbiennes radicales) movement, or "(FLR)" began in France in 1980, and became organized in 1981 under the name "Front des lesbiennes Radicales" . [Martel, Frederic. "The Pink and the Black: Homosexuals in France Since 1968", Stanford University Press, 2000, ISBN 0804732744, p119] An offshoot of this movement developed shortly after, in the French-speaking province of Quebec, Canada. [Gammon, Carolyn. "Lesbian Studies in Francophone Institutions and Organizations", in "Gay and Lesbian Studies" Henry L. Minton, Ed., Haworth Press, 1992, ISBN 1560230215, p155]

imilarities and differences between lesbian separatism and radical lesbianism

The principles of radical lesbianism are similar to those of English-language Lesbian separatism, however, there are some important basic differences.Turcotte, Louise. (foreword) "The Straight Mind and Other Essays", Monique Wittig, Beacon Press, 1992, ISBN 0807079170, p ix-x] [Kramarae & Spender. Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues, Routledge, 2000, ISBN 0415920892, p785] In her preface to Monique Wittig's "The Straight Mind", Quebec radical lesbian Louise Turcotte explains her views that "Radical lesbians have reached a basic consensus that views heterosexuality as a political regime which must be overthrown." Turcotte notes that Lesbian Separatists "create a new category" (IE: separation from men and heterosexual culture)" and that the Radical Lesbian movement aims for the "destruction of the existing framework of heterosexuality as a political regime." Turcotte goes on to discuss Adrienne Rich's landmark essay, "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence", noting that Rich describes heterosexuality as a violent political institution that has to be "imposed, managed, organized, propagandized and maintained by force." [Rich, Adrienne. Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence, Signs 5, no.4, Summer 1980] Rich sees lesbian existence as an act of resistance to this institution, but also as an individual choice, whereas the principles of Radical Lesbianism see lesbianism as necessary, and consider its existence as necessarily outside of the Heterosexual political sphere of influence.

Influence of Monique Wittig

The "FLR", or "Radical lesbians" were inspired by the words and writings of French philosopher, Monique Wittig," and their philosophic inquiries began through the Paris-based group, "Questions Feministes". [Duchen, Claire. "Feminism in France: From May '68 to Mitterand", Routledge, 1986, ISBN 0710204558, p24] Wittig's 1981 essay, titled after Simone de Beauvoir's observation, "One is not Born a Woman" posits that Lesbians are not Women; as "what makes a woman is a specific social relation to a man, a relation that we have previously called servitude, a relation which implies personal and physical obligation as well as economic obligation, ... a relation which lesbians escape by refusing to become or to stay heterosexual. [Wittig, Monique. "One is not Born a Woman" from "The Straight Mind", 1992] Wittig also believed that "lesbianism provides ...the only social form in which (lesbians) can live freely."Wittig, Monique. "One is not Born a Woman" from "The Straight Mind", 1992]

In the encyclopedia "Who's Who in Lesbian and Gay Writing", editor Gabriele Griffin calls Wittig's writing "part of a larger debate about how heteropatriarchy and women's oppression within it might be resisted."

Development of Radical Lesbian Culture in Quebec

The 1980s and 1990s saw the development of a number of Francophone Lesbian Periodicals in Quebec, Canada, including , "Treize", and "L'evidante lesbienne".Gammon, Carolyn. "Lesbian Studies in Francophone Institutions and Organizations", in "Gay and Lesbian Studies" Henry L. Minton, Ed., Haworth Press, 1992, ISBN 1560230215, p155] This was also a period of strength for french-language lesbian presses such as "Editions nbj" and "Oblique Editrices", and lesbian bookstores like Montreal's "L'Essentielle".

ee also

*Michele Causse

References