We Make No Pretence - An Anarcha-Feminist Critique

This is the text read at out the plenary meeting of the Anarchist Conference 09 during an intervention by a masked group of women who were pissed off by the patriarchy which is (still) evident within the anarchist movement. The video projection which was shown during the intervention is available on Youtube.

WE MAKE NO PRETENCE

We have taken this space and projected this short film to show how we see sexism in 'the movement' and sexism in capitalist society. We have covered our faces in the same way we might do against the state and its agents - inspired by the tradition of our militant sisters who took back male-dominated stages, and political spaces.

We expect hostility, intimidation and greater surveillance after our action. Covering up makes it easier to communicate. And we know that our message is much bigger than the messenger herself.

The following text is our response to the four thems of the conference.

MOVEMENT or why we aren't one

No matter how much we aspire to be 'self-critical' there is a clear lack of theorising and concrete action around sexism, homophobia and racism in the anarchist movement. We do not feel that the content and structure of the conference deal with gender and we're tired of asking for space - we're taking it ourselves.

You want to talk about history? Let's stop pretending that feminism is a short blip in the history of political struggles. The feminism you know may be the one that has been dominated by white middle-class liberal politics - NOT the struggles and pockets of revolutionary resistance missing from our political pamphlets and 'independent' media. The feminism of Comandanta Yolanda, of bell hooks, of Anzaldua, of Mbuya Nehanda, of Angela Davis, of Rote Zora, of Mujeres Libres...

CLASS or is anybody out there?

We are all oppressed by the class system, but there is nobody 'out there' who isn't also oppressed by white supremacy, imperialism, heterosexism, patriarchy, ableism, ageism...Pretending these systems don't exist or can be subsumed into ...

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• gender

[TommyLongstockings]

@edtastic Your opinions are clearly based on some very elaborate misconceptions.I recommend reading Peggy Kornegger's essay 'Anarchism: The Feminist Connection'. It should be freely available online.

[TommyLongstockings]

@edtastic If you are assuming that change can only happen through the state, then that makes YOU the non-anarchist. Anarcha-feminists are anarchists exactly because we want change to happen from the bottom up, NOT through the state. In fact, we view the state as an inherently patriarchal institution. And mind you, feminism is NOT about female control, in spite of what you might think, but about an equal power balance between all people regardless of sex, gender, race, class, etc.

[TommyLongstockings]

@edtastic I don't think it is yucky, and you assuming that that is my position makes you the immature and judgmental one. I am not against the sex, but against the power imbalance that capitalism brings to sexual relationships. There is nothing yucky about sex and there is nothing yucky about a woman, who sells herself for money. My beef is not with sex or with sex workers, but with the people and the system, who take advantage of both. If you like being a sex worker, then I won't stop you!

[skepsis11]

@edtastic men hurt by evil feminists...really? speaking of self-"victimhood".... feminism does not ask for your "pity". please write more of such bigotry, it will only prove the point of feminists, nothing else.

[edtastic]

@DoctressJulia Get your head out of our pants. We can watch all the porn we want and controlling women like you need to respect the freedom of others. We really don't care how it makes you feel and we don't have to. Women are not hurt by porn as much as men are hurt by evil feminist like yourself with your sick twisted views of gender. You hate male sexuality and are scared of it. Your cowardice and paranoia is your own problem. You deserve no pity, you are just hateful bigot who hates men.

[edtastic]

@DoctressJulia Women are no more slaves than the men in society. You only know how to pity yourself and have empathy only for women. What kind of entitled arrogant fool would demand men to support of those they seek to subjugate. Your ideology is no better than the oppressive state it would replace because you would form it to make men behave in the service of women alone without regard to what male prefences might be.

[edtastic]

@jdugmar Feminist act in a way that's oppressive by constantly telling men what to do. You hate their sexuality, you hate their masculinity, you hate the strength of their voice and even the fact external genitalia makes rape possible. Let's be honest it is a man hating agenda and free men have no reason to support feminist. Gender equality on the other hand can be had without the stupidity of trying to destroy male power and influence as a whole.

[edtastic]

Feminist can't be anarchist because they are obsessed with controlling other men which can only be done through the state. If men are free your agenda would be uninforcable and you would have to rely on free people making their own choices which is clearly the last thing you want. Feminist rely on other men to get their way, but free men won't oppress themselves to so women can feel good about themselves. Women would have to rely on their own abilities instead of male coddling and support.

[edtastic]

@TommyLongstockings None of the things you speak of make women cattle, they are jobs women choose to do in trade for other things, you are only complaining because you think it's yucky which makes you a immature judgmental prude. Nobody needs to care about your petty feelings so get over yourself and your moralizing.

[Ilikenuman]

@DoctressJulia

why would any anarchist want to stop people from joining a movement thats small and fragmented enough as it is?