'105 MOTHER RIGHT A New Feminist Theory JANE ALPERT.

Dear Sisters in the Feminist Media, First of all, greetings. Second, I am enclosing a piece hopefully for publication in your paper, which is entitled "Mother Right: A New Feminist Theory". Having gone under­ ground three years ago as a committed leftist, and since become a radical feminist, I regard this piece as a distillation of what I have learned in these three years. The piece describes the process by which I became a fem­ inist, and devotes a fair amount of space to my vision for the future, for you, for myself, for the planet. The first part is in the form of an open letter to my sister-fugitives in the Weather Underground. However, I intend it to be meaningful to many other women, and particularly women working in the left or on left causes. I expose hitherto unknown information about the Weather Underground, not merely to shock but to challenge other women to confront the oppression we face in the left. I urge women to leave the left and leftist causes and begin working for women, for ourselves. The second part of the piece is structured around my political/religious vision as a feminist and as a woman. I believe that what basically unites us as women is our common biology, and that biology is therefore at the same time the source of our oppression and of our potential power. The feminist revolution will be at its root a religious transformation of society, in which society- wide recognition of the creative principle as female will take the place of worship of the modern (male) God, and women will simultaneously gain not merely respect but true power. To all of you whom I know personally, and all of you whom I don't yet, more thanks than I can say, and much love. In Sisterhood,

Dear Sisters in the Weather Under­ SDS [Students for a Democratic So­ of Rudd himself. This was not pos­ ground: ciety] or of Weatherman, and al­ sible because Rudd made it difficult I am addressing this piece to you, though I'd had conversations with for us to see each other without him, in spite of the fact that my concern Weatherpeople which were influ­ and because when the three of us at this point is with a far broader ential in my decision to go under­ were together, he made a practice spectrum of women than your tiny ground rather than to prison, 1 lost of interrupting her and seemed to band of forgotten leftists, because contact with the organization short­ regard himself as the spokesman for it was our arguments of the past ly after I became a fugitive. I was a Ihem both. Nevertheless, his obvious year that convinced me to publicize serious militant leftist at that time, dependence on her, combined with my conversion from the left to radi­ and the most feminist activity I'd his frequent apologies to me for his cal feminism. I realized after these ever been involved with was the all- manipulative behavior in past years arguments that for me to keep women's newspaper Rat, which, de­ (toward me in particular and wom­ silence would only support the illu­ spite its exclusion of men, remained" en in general), gave me some hope- sion that the "underground"is unit­ thoroughly left-identified. In the last that he had fundamentally changed ed around the male politics which . three years I have become a radical and might even have become a sym­ you still espouse, and these politics feminist. The change in my politics pathetic ally to the Women's Move­ and practices are too reprehensible has not been sudden, and I want to ment. I was soon disillusioned. to me as a feminist to protect them go into its causes and its substance What finally woke me to the real­ by silence. I know that seeing this much more fully later in this paper. ity of this man's character was a con­ letter—which you thought you For now, I only want to set the scene versation we had while Caroline would receive as a private communi­ of my renewed acquaintance with was out of town, lie made a special cation—here in print will shock you the Weather Underground by say­ point of wanting to get together with and that you will regard much of its ing that when it occurred, I was de­ me at this time:, and as we were sit­ content as a breach of the tacit code cisively through with the left and ting on the front seat of a car on a of honor among political fugitives. had, at least mentally, re-dedicated rainy evening, he attempted to put Nevertheless, my own politics de­ myself to the cause of a revolution our relationship on a more intimate mand that I share with all women made by and for women. footing by means of the following my knowledge of the sexual oppres­ It was in this general frame of confession: he told me that approxi­ sion of the left, if only to warn mind, then, just about a year ago, mately a year earlier Caroline had other sisters against the pain, that that I was attending a public lecture had a serious ovarian infection, has been inflicted on us. Perhaps and, a few minutes after seating my­ which made sex very painful for her. you personally will never open up self, noticed a man sitting nearby This, he said, was the root of a whole to feminism; yet the experiences I who looked vaguely familiar. I range of "problems" in their relation­ am going to relate may speak more would not have noticed him at all ship, ranging from his virtually rap­ effectively to women involved in except for the fact that he was very ing her (he couldn't help himself, other branches of the left, from Mc- obviously staring at me and at the he said) to his imagining himself in Covern organizers to Socialist Work­ same time making laughing, sur­ love with another woman. He de­ ers Party members. And I have some prised comments to the people scribed to me how titillating he hope that the impact of a public around him. I thought with some found it that this other woman statement may do what none of my alarm that he must be either an looked on him as a revolutionary private arguments have succeeded agent or a dangerous fool, and I was hero* how she excited him sexually in doing: persuade you to leave the both more and less apprehensive without satisfying him intellectual­ dying left in which you are flounder­ • when I finally realized who he was. ly, how he couldn't resist the excite­ ing and begin to put your immense It was Mark Rudd. ment of an affair with her though it courage and unique-skills to work After I recovered from the shock, was causing great anguish to Caro­ for worm ;:-for yourselves. I became excited by this rare and line. The affair ended, however, Sint:* )!;;s is an open letter, let me unhoped-for opportunity to share when he learned that the "other" summarize for other women what experiences with a fellow-fugitive, woman was pregnant by him and you already know of nay history, and for a short time I relished it in that she wanted to have his child. underground md as a feminist. I be­ spite of the problems. Rudd was liv­ He regarded the pregnancy as en­ came a fugitive in May, 1970. a few ing with a woman I hadn't met be­ tirely her own fault, since she had bef ie mv si senten- fore, whom I'll call Caroline. She stopped taking birth-control pills eing for conspiracy to bomb military seemed to be a strong and sensitive without telling him, and he ex­ and war-r< lat< el < orporate buildings person, and I would have loved to plained that this willful and self- in Manhattan. ! was never part of get to know her well, independently destructivc carelessness—as he saw

-2- it—was what had proved to him tlt.it and sensitive man. Finally, whatever for your flippant claim that it "bores" "a man ean'l politically educate .1 the risk, it seemed well worth it if I you to talk about mere a pathetic woman. Il slowly dawned on me could give oven one woman in our way to avoid admitting your oppres­ that Kudd was telling nie this ston : situation support that would help sion. < 1 ) because it proved what an ir­ her stand up for herself, and for all But the wall f cannot .surmount is resistibly highly sexed masculine women, against our oppression in a your insistence that if I really prac­ creature he was, and (2) because movement that puts our interests ticed sisterhood I wouldn't make de­ as a "liberated woman," not to men­ last. mands on you in the name- of femin­ tion a presumably proabortion fem­ Encouragingly, my very first ism, but woidd respect your political inist, lie quite sincerely expected me meeting with one of you was a won­ path as equally valid to my own. You to cluck a sympathetic tongue over derful experience for me, and I was want me to accept your claim that his problem with this Dumb Chick. much moved by the warm reception you are no longer dominated by I told Hudd in the strongest terms and attention this woman gave me men, as you admit you were when of which 1 was capable how appall­ and my politics, and the genuine re­ you first joined Weatherman, as in ing his behavior was to me, but spect that I felt from her as well as fact we all are as long as we live though my failure lo sympathize for her. (I suspect now, in the after­ under patriarchy. Yet in the same seemed to startle him, nothing I math of other meetings, that this breath that you claim, "Women run could say would convince him of the may have been partly because she the organization," you admit that seriousness with which I regarded was unprepared for the radical of the five members of the Weather­ his crimes. "Of course I trust you," changes in my politics and therefore man Central Committee, three are were his benevolently paternalistic responded to mc openly and honest­ men. And you have no shame in tell­ last words to me. "I know vou ly. The rest of you had, in advance ing me that one of these three- is Bill wouldn't do something like those of meeting me, already armored Avers, notorious for his callous treat­ Boston women who denounced Eric- yourselves against revealing too ment and abandonment of Diana Mann [a Weatherman who served a much of your "personal problems" Oughton before her death and for two-year prison term] as a sexist pig as women in a male organization.) his generally fickle and high-handed who deserved his imprisonment." For whatever reason, I was, as it treatment of women; and that an­ While it wasn't possible for me to turned out, all too ready to plunge other is Jeff Jones, who once told that establish much of a relationship with into a dialogue in which I used my dull-witted misogynist Robert Palm­ Caroline—given the short time we own skin as wallpaper while you er that if I thought Weatherman was Were in the same geographical area sidestepped and evaded every issue. a male supremacist organization, I and Rudd's obtuse omnipresence—I Your resistance to discussing your could "suck his dick." Or have Avers could at least look forward to getting personal experience, your trivializ­ and Jones now become feminists too in touch, through Rudd, with wom­ ing of your own pain and suffering, —like Mark Rudd, who after a year's en in the Weather Underground. I your insistence that the oppression leave to overcome his "arrogance: was waiy about this because I knew of others is more important than and insensitivity" (which you won't you Wcathcrwomen had never your own—these are part of the self- even call by its true name: sexism), given a sign, publicly or privately, contempt that has been bred in all of you are admitting back into the or­ of being more receptive- to a femin­ us women, and I understand it as I ganization? ist point of view than Rudd himself understand myself. I can even deal The politico-feminist split is a real was; that you had never risked the with your more contrived evasions, one, one that will vanish as soon as esteem of leftist men in anv state­ the ones that were obviously devel­ we accept ourselves as xcomen first ment or action; and that the few oped only after years of building de­ of all, but which will continue to di­ statements of your organization fenses against the threat that the vide us until we share that con­ which made reference to the Wom­ Women's Movement seems to you. I sciousness. It is you leftists, you en's Movement revealed a complete can see why you overlooked security male-identified socialist and liberal failure to understand it and an in­ so that, apparently by chance, I ran and pacifist and Woather-sympa tense eagerness to co-opt it. Never­ into one more Wcatherwoman than thi/ing women, who try to deny any theless, I respected—and respect— we had agreed I would meet during significant difference between m<.ie \ou in a way J never could Hudd. 1 the brief time we were together, a polities and feminist polities. "We re knew it was your strength that had woman who just "happened to be-" all just women," you say, and \cc arc held the organization together when rabidly antifeminist. I know what —but to you that is a phenomenon of the mens desperate egomania advantage you saw in circulating a the most peripheral possible inter­ thread ned lo destroy yon all. I could vicious, unfounded rumor about a est, indeed it only seems to occur to count on the [act that as women— well-known feminist and then assert­ you when under fire from feminists. and specifically as women fugitives ing she herself was not to blame for As long as you are working political­ —we shared certain experiences that her errors because the Women's ly with men, as long as you are let­ could bring us closer together in out­ Movement was responsible for her ting men define your attitudes, be­ look and feelings than would be pos­ psychological destruction. I can havior, and standards, then we stand sible with even the most sympathetic understand all too well the reasons on opposite sides of a line all too

-3- visible to me in spite of your blind- threatened to leave me if I backed Magic Marker on the side of the re­ • ness to it, but which I know you too out. What he valued in me, besides frigerator as a cute reminder of my will see once you have crossed it. having a dependable sexual partner responsibilities; he threatened to 'And to cross it you need do only one- and housekeeper, was what he took leave me, and meant it, if I took up thing: let your own self-interest be to be my "independence" and "self- smoking cigarettes after having your highest priority. I am not ask­ sufficiency"—as he often told me. • given them up to please him; he ing you to stop loving men, or to This made me useful to him as an wouldn't allow our lease, our tele­ break all personal and emotional ties ally, and further assured him that phone, our utilities bill, our bank with the men who are important to I had the quality he prized above all account, or anything else we shared you. I know that those ties are never. others in women: the capacity to to be in his name on the ostensible broken out of a simplistic political love him devotedly, yet get along grounds that he was delinquent with decision but only when and if con­ without him uncomplainingly when­ his income tax and didn't want to sciousness of oppression makes them ever he chose to leave. The last letter be found through public records. so inconsistent with self-respect that I received from him exhorted me The real reason, it turned out, was they can no longer be borne. Even against writing narrow-mindedly of that he didn't want his wife to find then it is with enormous pain and loving and needing him, instead of him and demand the child support grief and in spite- of an ever-reluc­ writing about great social truths • he owed her and hadn't paid in tant part of ourselves that we sep­ (the ones he was concerned with, years. arate from men we have eared for. I that is). "To speak of love, especially He was sexually impotent unless firmly believe that one can be a seri­ love between one desperate man and he could fantasize the woman he was ous feminist and still live with and woman, limits our vision and ties us with as a prostitute and she went relate to a man and to men. The gulf to the past." Yet the same letter ends along with his fantasy. that is between us is not that, but on an explicitly sexual note: "Yes, At one point Sam joined a political Rather that you allow men to rule on sweet bitch, I love you. And if they group headed by Rap Brown. This your politics. ever let me out and the wind is right, group's attitude toward women was I'll find you." This was typical; he Believe ine, I understand your bigotry itself: they didn't include would never "degrade" himself by side of it. I've been on that side— any and they didn't intend to. Ac­ admitting love for a woman in any I've practically drowned on that cording to Brown himself, as quoted fashion not immediately tied to his side. Over a year ago I wrote an in­ by Melville, women would be "a dis­ sexual pleasure. troduction to a book of the prison traction from serious business." letters of Sam Me-lville, a man I A few months be-fore we were ar­ When I confronted Sam on this, he loved and lived with who was killed rested, Sam began a secret affair seemed slightly embarrassed but in tlie Attica with a woman friend of ours whom wouldn't even commit himself to uprising of September 1971. I was I hadn't seen in some time. In order discussing male supremacy with his already a feminist when I wrote to kc-ep us from comparing notes on new idol, Rap Brown. Recalling this, that introduction and had theoret­ his behavior, he told her he was no I'm reminded ironically of the di­ ically rejected the politics that Mel­ longer living with me. He; also at vision of all-black bomber pilots sta­ ville had taught me and that he had least hinted to her that the sabotage tioned out of Texas during World lived and died for. Yet I had never of military and corporate buildings War II who, despite phenomenal found the courage or the words to around the city was the work of him­ sacrifices and heroism, were forbid­ tell him that while he lived, and self and friends. I discovered his be­ den the supposed privilege of being especially while influenced by the trayal only by the coincidence of integrated with white battalions. powerful feelings that his murder having acquaintances in common How strange it is that not only the aroused in me, I was incapable of with the other woman, acquaint­ man I lived with but one of the most writing the truth of his male su­ ances to whom she had repeated brilliant and sophisticated black premacy—that underside of men's Sam's hints. To this day I don't know militants of the 1960s should turn lives that only women know—in my how many other dangerous, possibly out to have the same kind of crass eulogistic essay on his fife. Since fatal, violations of security his mas- ignorance about women. this is the last time I will ever write culinist need to boast led him to And so, my sisters in Weatherman, about him, I would like to tell some commit. you fast and organize and demon­ of that truth here. Some will say Melville's sexism strate for Attica. Don't send me I was very much pressured, was extreme just as his politics were news clippings about it, don't tell against my own sense of tactics and' extreme. Yet I have seen his behavior me how much those deaths moved timing, into playing the role I did in duplicated in the most bourgeois you.. the group of radical bombers Mel­ households by males of all political I will mourn the loss of 42 male ville half-led, half-dragged along persuasions, economic backgrounds, supremacists no longer. with him. The pressure was of the ages, and skin colors. I never knew kind peculiar and common to male- Sam to cook a meal for himself; he female relationships: he constantly once wrote WASH ME in black -4- BIRTH OF MOTHER RIGHT

My first year underground was very with kindness or with hostility, it suffering from the same causes her hard. Expecting to die for the Revo­ was basically because I was a female mother and grandmother had before lution in a matter of months, I was doing whatever it was I was doing. her. These women—all random ex­ unprepared to find myself not only Women generally took their cue of amples—would not necessarily say alive but living a rather unadven- how to relate to me from the way or think that they were part of the turous and secluded existence less men related to me, or I to men. It Women's Movement. But they de-m- than a year after "disappearing." I occurred to me that this was no dif­ onstrated to me, among others, that found it increasingly difficult to get ferent from the way people I had the changing consciousness repre­ along with the friends with whom known for years had related to me, sented by the Women's Movement I was still in touch, especially with but because we had known each has been more far-re-aching than any the men who were becoming in­ other well I had been aware of the public-opinion poll on Women's Lin­ creasingly overbearing and critical subtleties in our relationships to the e-ration would see-m to show As for of all my actions, as I was grow ing point of being blind to the underly­ the frequently heard opinion that increasingly sensitive to their inter­ ing structure Of course I had heard Third World women support Third ference. Chafing at (-very restriction, feminists express these perceptions World liberation but not Women's hostile even lo lln one woman before, and had even asserted them Liberation, I believe that this is true friend I really cared tor, I finally- myself occasionally, but I had ncve-r chiefly of a few women who are decided to take off on my own, internalized them. I now began to highly regarded by Third World reasoning that it couldn't get much think that if my politics were to be male radicals and hence are con­ worse. I started to travel and for a based on my own situation and not sidered newsworthy by the: media. lew mouths just roamed, almost aim­ on someone else's perception of Among the majority of Third World lessly, from one- community to an­ reality, I would have to deal with women, it seems to me that {he- other across the- country. the fact that the rest of the world Women's Movement is spreading As I traveled, 1 slowly became thought of me as a woman first of and its ideas are having increasing aware that nothing was h-ss relevant all, be-fore- it even listened to what effect, just as among white women. to tin- lives of most people in this I had to saw The turning point of my personal country than the white left, with- Together with these discoveries, rapprochement with feminism came which I still identified myself. The I began to realize the astonishing im­ when, a year afte-r I'd left New York leftist (and rightist, for that mat­ pact the Women's Movement has as a fugitive, I joine-d a women's rap ter) distinctions between working had all over the U.S. in just a fe>w group composed of a half-dozen class and ruling class, hippies and years. I could see women every­ other women, of wide-ly different straight people, youth and Estab­ where—white, black, brown, Indian economic backgrounds, ages, and lishment, all seemed increasingly —responding in their daily lives to family situations, brought together absurd to me. They seemed to deter­ the- fact that some women some­ only by our common desire—or de-s- mine nothing of certainty about any­ where had said, "Men oppress us." perate- need—to talk with other wom- one's attitude or political outlook. I came- to know Chicana women liv­ e-n about our lives. No one in the As I moved around, I could see more ing in a barrio who were organizing group knew who I was, or that I was clearly than ever the oppression of women's health-care programs and wanted on a federal warrant. I know, black, Chicano, Puerto Rican, and women's antirapc squadrons to though, that they all sensed my un­ Indian pe-oplc-s. Yet at the same time patrol their own ne-ighborhood. A spoken inner turmoil (if not the I was learning concretely that wom­ white; woman, mother of three, from specific causes of it) and in response- en existed in well-defined subcul­ a poor Southern family and on wel­ gave me more positive emotional tures within each white and Third fare*, talked to me with groat elo­ and intellectual support than I could World community. Finally, all my quence about how she saw the have imagined possible from a group experiences kept reminding me of courts, the police, the welfare- sys­ of strangers. They sustained me one- fact of my own identity I was tem, and her ex-husband as all part through the crisis I underwent after continually trying to forget: that I of the same male-run system, which Melville's murder and the dramatic was a woman. Men, Third World women needed to take ove-r and run upheavals in my consciousness in­ and otherwise, young and old, hippie for their own benefit. A woman I voked in the experience. Eventual­ and straight, related to me as Wom­ met who had been born into a ly, when a series of circumstances an, all my other interests or charac­ wealthy and traditional Japanese forced mc to leave the area in which teristics being, in their eyes, mere family told me she was filing for di­ I'd come to know them, they gave modifications of that one essential. vorce against a husband who physi­ me, as a group, the help and strength Whether I was desired, rejected, cally and mentally abused her be­ I needed to face yet another move abused, admired, ignored, treated cause she refused to go through life into the unknown.

-5- The process of the consciousness- eouragod thousands e>f women who us are not engaged in such activities raising group, for me and for the would never have demo so before- to but many of us share' in the chang­ other women involved, was one- in discover and develop their unique: ing consciousness that the:se women which wc began to be able- to define talents, and to stand up against male are expressing publicly. And in light ourselves as individuals and as wom­ prerogatives and values with origin­ of the: accomplishments already gen- en. Some of us had previously con­ ality and courage. Moreover, as in­ crated from this changing conscious­ ceived of ourselves as exceptional creasing numbers of women are: ness, I think wc need to take another women, some of us thought being turning to art, science, and other look not only at the old male-su­ female necessarily meant being pas­ creative efforts, a tndy female—that premacist assumptions about wom­ sive and dependent, but it soon be­ is, a feminist—culture is beginning en's "nature" but also at some of the came clear that we had come- to the to take shape. It seems little- short assertions of the Women's Move­ group each in a private panic of no of miraculous that with so little in ment so far. Just what is the power­ longer knowing who wc were. What the way of facilities—still very few ful source of this consciousness? we discovered in each other was the research grants, little access to the For centuries feminists have as­ pulse of a culture and a conscious­ best laboratories, to substantial pub­ serted that the essential difference ness which was common to us as lishing contracts, and the like—our between men and women does not women. We discovered it as some­ own culture has nevertheless man­ lie in biology but rather in the roles thing that had always been there, aged to take root and flourish. that patriarchal societies (men) but that we had not previously rec­ Feminist newspapers, literary have required each sex to play. The ognized or felt able to trust. Trust­ magazines, cooperative child-care motivation for this assertion is ob­ ing it—or gaining confidence in our centers, anthropology colle-ctivcs, vious: women's biology has always thoughts, feelings, resentments, de­ legal clinics, poetry workshops, se:lf- been used to justify women's oppres­ sires, and intuitions as attributes that hclp medical clinics, counseling sion. As patriarchal reasoning went, we shared as a people and which services, music groups, and graphics since "God" or "nature" or "evolu­ were therefore valid—became the collectives are a few of the newborn tion" had made woman the bearer basis of beginning to trust ourselves alternative institutions providing the and nurser of the species, it logically as individuals. access for women whose values and followed that she should stay home with the children and perform as I believe that the struggle to de­ vision are unacceptable to the patri­ a matter of more-or-less ordained fine oneself for oneself ultimately archy, or who choose not to pay the duty all the domestic chores in­ takes place in a realm of the mind artistic and emotional price exacted volved in keeping and feeding a in which one is always alone and by men in exchange for a share of household. When women work out­ unsupported. For some women the male privilege. side the home, we have the most Even more significantly, the pro­ existence of a women's group or menial and lowest-paid tasks to per­ ducts of these alternative institutions even a Women's Movement has not form, chiefly because any labor a (and of the individual women in­ been a necessary precondition of woman performs outside the home volved with them or working on that struggle. Individual women of is thought to be temporary and in­ their own) is qualitatively different genius—artists, scientists, philoso­ essential to her, no matter how she from the products of men and male phers, activists, and visionaries- herself might be inclined to regard institutions. For instance, a feminist have left us written and other evi­ it. Naturally, then, the first healthy all-women's rock band sounds dif­ dence to prove that throughout the impulse of feminism is to deny that history of patriarchy some women ferent from a male rock band or simply because women have breasts have found it possible to call upon from an all-women's rock band try­ and uteruscs we are better suited to their inner powers to create and ing to reproduce male music; they wash dishes, scrub floors, or change- achieve and succeed. For each of are not only singing different lyrics diapers. As newly roused feminists, these women, many others who were but the melodies and harmonies and wc retorted to evidence that women unable to leave us records have man­ rhythms are different. Feminist an­ might be intrinsically better suited aged to define their individuality thropologists are approaching their to perform some roles than others by and assert themselves in the face of subject from a different perspective pointing out that men have been enormous male hostility. And yet the and with different assumptions than forcing these roles on us for at least evidence we have proves ultimately male anthropologists, or women an­ five- thousand years. After such time-, only that no matter how many ob­ thropologists in the- past who had conditioning and habit are- so strong stacles are in the way, a few women emly male-defined standards and that the-v appear to be intrinsic and will possess the ability, determina­ methods at their disposal. Feminist innate-. tion, and special privilege to over­ teachers are: creating a different come them. style of classroom situation with However, a flaw in this feminist In considering social change it their women students. Feminist law­ argument has persisted: it contra­ is of much more significance that yers are helping their clients to use dicts our felt experience of the bio­ today's Women's Movement has en- the- law to help themselves. All of logical difference between the sexes -6- as one of immense significance. To en, the particular attributes that set sula, and the Mediterranean area begin with, it seems obvious that feminist art apart, and a compe-lling and persisted as late as 2,000 B.C. in biology alone would, in primitive line of research now being pursued some areas, such as Crete. Recent societies, have dictated different by feminist anthropologists all point archaeological icvidence suggests roles and different powers as ap­ to the idea that female biology is the that Davis may be proved correct in propriate to each sex. And biological basis of women's powers. Biology is the near future, and her thesis has scientists have indeed assumed, for hence the source and not the enemy been stated in a more tentative style the most part, that the physical pas­ of feminist revolution. than hers by several other highly re­ sivity of the female mammal during The root of this idea lies perhaps spected scientists. intercourse and the demands of in buried history. It has increasingly The feminist conception of these pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing been acknowledged that the most societies is that there was no such clearly indicate a role of women as ancient societies worshiped a female sharp division as now exists between biologically determined, and in­ deity or deities, and that menstrua­ home life and societal life. Industry ferior. In response to this, Shulamith tion, conception, pregnancy, child­ was carried out in the home, travel Firestone, with the publication of birth, and all other phenomena as­ was limited, and the life of the so­ The Dialectic of Sex in 1970, artic­ sociated with female biology were ciety centered around the life in the ulated the definitive feminist antith­ surrounded with taboos. Further­ home, in which women were the de­ esis to this idea by denouncing more, a number of these ancient cision-makers. Therefore women biology as reactionary. Agreeing societies were matrilineal: property held power not only in the' home- but that biology had necessarily been an and social identity were inherited also in the tribe or clan at large. all-powerful determinant of social through the mother rather than the The-y decided not only family mat­ roles in the past, Firestone went on father. Whether women had any ters, but when lo pi,ml .mel har­ to argue that the advances of tech­ secular power in these societies is a vest, when te) go to war and nology made this tyranny potential­ subject of dispute, and most archae­ make peace, questions of marriage ly obsolete. Women are stillenslaved ologists and anthropologists have and property, and all important dis­ to their bodies not because of bi­ felt that women didn't have any putes within the clan. Religion was ology but because the patriarchy power except over a fe:w religious so intrinsic a part of daily life that will not permit the use of technology rites. But most archaeologists and it was impossible for women to be at to interfere with men's power over anthropologists have been men, once- worshiped in prayers and women. However, in Firestone's whose imaginations could not quite treated as inferiors in social rela­ view, the dialectic of history, in grasp a society in which women held tions. Instead, it could be argued, which the sexual relationship under­ real power, even a pretechnological the very reason behind the- enshrin­ lies all other power relationships, society. ( For example-, the- section on ing of the female creative principle indicates that a feminist revolution "Amazons" in the authoritative Ox­ was the- perception by women of the- is inevitable. This revolution will ford Classical Dictionary spends all divine in their own image. Some of put technology to work to literally of one sentence dismissingthe notion the extant literature- which survived free women from biology—from that the Amazon tribes ever existed to a much later period seems to bear pregnancy, childbirth, and the rest —though these tribes were acknowl­ this theory out. For example, the -thereby eliminating the last differ­ edged by nearly every ancient his­ Earth Goelde-ss Dcmcter of the an­ ence of any importance between torian who wrote- about preclassical cient Greeks is portrayed even in the sexes and ultimately causing the times.) Feminists in many branches relatively late Homeric oral poetry sexual difference itself to wither of science and historical research as a maternal figure with a special away, in the course of evolution, to­ have- be-en re-examining the- evidence relationship to women and children, gether with all forms of oppression. for the existence: of ancient gynoc- yet with enormous powers over men I think that Firestone is visionary racies, or women-ruled societies. as well. By contrast, the stern, auto­ in perceiving the sexual relationship Among the more visionary and lyric­ cratic, blood-lusting, and super- as the basis of all power relation­ ally persuasive (if somewhat fact­ masculine deity of the Old Testa­ ships, and in predicting that feminist ually problematic) of these recent ment is much more appropriate to a revolution will therefore result in the studies is The First Sex by Elizabeth patriarchal society. The women this Could Davis. Davis hypothesizes Jehovah curses as whores and hea­ end of all oppression. However, the that patriarchal society began only thens are perhaps the very matri­ evidence of feminist culture-, which after barbarian male tribes violently archal queens whose powers the in­ has accumulated largely since: the overthrew the ancient, peaceful, and vading masculinist forces needed to publication of her epochal book, relatively advanced gynocracics, in stamp out for their own purposes. suggests that her analysis of the role: which women were not only wor­ of biology was deficient and that a shiped but were actually temporal Whether or not the matriarchies third possibility—which is indeed a rulers. These ancient gynocracies existed and whether or not the ques­ new synthesis of the previous views may have existed throughout Asia, tion is even capable of proof, to —may well be correct. The uniepic northern Africa, the Arabian penin- raise the issue of the interconnection consciousness or sensibility of wom­ between female biology and re- -7- ligious and secular power is in itself of growth as a process rather than as are the most exploited ol aii of these of enormous importance. It seems to goal-ended, inventiveness, protect­ in respect to both wages and work­ me that the power of the new femin­ ive feelings toward others, and a ing conditions; but these very divi­ ist culture, the powers which were capacity to respond emotionally as sions of the "proletariat" show 'the attributed to the ancient matri­ well as rationally. If matriarchy obstacle's to its solidarity more- point­ archies (considered either as his­ means a society in which these are edly than anything else. However, if. torical fact or as mythic archetypes), the qualities all human beings ad­ with Firestone, we transfer our focus and the inner power with which mire- and strive to embody, a society from economics to sex, that is, from many women are beginning to feel in which the paradigm for all social production to re-production, the in touch and which is the soul of relationships is the relationship ol a Marxist terminology itse-lf begins to feminist art, may all arise from the healthy and secure mother to her make- more- sense. For there is very same source That source is none child, then matriarchy means noth­ clearly a large- group of women who other than female biology: the ing less than the end ol oppression. by reason both of exploitation and capacity to bear and nurture chil­ Interestingly enough, the mater­ importance to the society perfectly dren. It is conceivable that the in­ ialist analysis brings us to conclu­ answer the requirements of the- van­ trinsic biological connection be­ sions similar to the ones f have- just guard, and who are- increasingly tween mother and embryo or mother set forth from an idealist standpoint. closely in touch with one another. and infant gives rise to those- jmy- In the Marxist dialectical-materialist These- women arc, of course1, chological qualities which have al­ view of history, the "vanguard" of mothers. ways been linked with women, both the "revolutionary class" is that Mothers live by their labor yet in ancient lore and modern be­ group which is not only gre-atly ex­ gene-rally without standardized havioral science Motherhood must ploited by the class in power but wages. If they have husbands who be- understood he-re as a potential which is also performing labor es­ cam good money and are generous, which is imprinted in the genes of sential to the- functioning of society. they arc amply supplied—but only every woman; as such it makes no The rulinii class is thereby forced to so long as they can keep their hus­ difference to this analysis of fc-male- respond to demands which it puts bands.. Otherwise, they have little or ness whether a woman ever has nothing outside the necessities and borne, or ever will bear, a child. forth in the name of the oppressed. A third re-quire-ment is that the class whatever they do have goes to their Biology alone is in no way an be- potentially collective; each mem­ children first. The only mothers who adequate explanation of what it is to ber should not be severely isolated do cam a standard wage for the la­ be female Women have been ex­ from every other. In classical Marx­ bor of child-rearing arc those on wel­ ploited in our society for at least ism, the "revolutionary vanguard" is fare, and that pay is barely enough five thousand years and female composed of the "industrial prole­ to sustain life. The job is without powers have been correspondingly tariat" who must sell their labor to guarantees or security of any kind. frustrated and weakened. The ef­ the capitalists in order to eat, whose Its workday is twenty-four hours, fects of powcrlessness on us are no­ labor is essential to industry and workweek seven days, no vacations, where more obvious than in con­ therefore to society, and whose work no holidays. Total dedication to the temporary motherhood. In the patri­ process is socialized. No revolution job is expected, and yet a woman archy, we do not rise to a position of founded on Marxist principles has who works "only" in the home is re­ special esteem and authority when adhered to the classic pattern: in garded, with some contempt, as an we have children. On the contrary, Russia the proletariat was a tiny mi­ unemployed housewife. Women we are denied even the few options nority with no influence at the time with children are the women who for meaningful participation in so­ of the Bolshevik revolution, and Mao most frequently suffer from fatigue, ciety that are available to us as child­ had to rewrite both Marx and Lenin headaches, listlcssncss, depression, less women. We react to this powcr­ to suit Chinese conditions, defining insomnia, digestive disorders, loss of lessness in a myriad of negative the peasantry as the "vanguard" in energy, nervous tension, and other ways, ranging from overposscssive- illnesses common to women. If the that context. The industrial prole­ hess of our children (as in the hyper- women who work in factories were tariat in the U.S. today is a larger tense Jewish-mother stereotype) to all replaced by men, it would repre­ group than in either prerevolution- utter self-abnegation (as in the Ma­ sent some economic cost to industry ary Russia or prerevolutionary donna image) to child-murder (as but no alteration in the power struc­ China, but is not, by and large, an in the myth of Medea). But fem­ ture: or the basic assumptions of so­ exploited one Through unions they inist culture is based on what is ciety concerning sex and class roles. have acquired a significant share of best and strongest in women, and The- labor of these same women in power, and their right-wing views as we begin to define ourselves as the home, however—and of all wom­ do not spring from "false class con­ women, the qualities coming to the en who work at child-roaring, fore arc the same ones a mother pro­ sciousness" but rather from a hard- whether of their own children, jects in the- best kind of nurturing nosed sense- of their own self-inter­ adopted childre-n, or someone else's relationship to a child: empathy, in­ est. Taken alone. Third Woild male children for wages—cannot be re­ to itive-ness, adaptability, aware ne-ss industrial workers are much le-ss placed on a mass scale without privileged, and women m industry -8- cataclysmic* changes in the social culiar to patriarchy, it seems to me, Demands relating to jobs, profes­ structure and would be eliminated as soon as sional opportunities, and electoral Mothers are a distinctly defined women cease to bo pawns in man­ representation will continue to be group. Nevertheless, their interests power games. If Mother Bight wore important, partly because the un­ as a group are in no way opposed to the informing principle of society, it equal treatment of women in these the- interests of women as a whole-, would make no difference whether areas makes people aware of wom­ but are- rather intimately linked with a woman lived with men or women, en's overall inferior status, and part­ these. For motherhood itself is only let alone- with whom she slept. A ly because increasing numbers of the- concrete expression of that po­ woman would be powerful and re­ women want and need to support tential which defines all women. spected simply as a woman, and par­ themselves with jobs outside the Accordingly, the domestic situation ticularly esteemed as a mother, re- home. But the Women's Movement of women underlies the way we- are gardless of whom she- lived with. For must, and will, be-gin to focus on treated on the- job market. But the far from be-ing in a position to exploit those- demands which re-late con­ point of Mother Bight is to reshape a woman because she chose to live cretely to women's role in child- the family according to the percep- • and/or sleep with other women, a rearing. These more radical-feminist Horn of women, and to reshape so­ man would consider himself fortu­ demands include: wage-s for all ciety in the image of this new matri­ nate if a woman only chose te) live women engaged in child-rearing; archal family. Because motherhood and/or sleep with him. paid holidays and vacations; collec­ cuts across economic class, race-, and The conditions of life- in the- patri­ tive child-care centers controlled by sexual preference, a society in which archy are such that the overwhelm­ mothers with the- participation of ail women were powerful by virtue- of ing majority of women in the fon-- members of the community, includ­ being mothers would not be divided seeable future will continue to mar­ ing fathers, older children, and along any of these lines. Nor would ry and raise children and to regard childless adults; laboratories and re­ any new division between women, that role as the- central one in their search facilities to be turned over to such as between mothers and child­ lives. This majority includes millions feminist scientists so that research less women, arise, because the root of women who also have jobs outside into contraception, fertility, preg­ of motherhood and the root of fe­ their homes. The Women's Move­ nancy, and birth can be conducted male consciousness are, I believe, ment is their movement not only in women's interests; hospital and one- and the same because they are- a majority, but be­ outpatient facilities related to wom­ Returning to my personal experi­ cause' feminist consciousness springs en's health to be run and staffed by ence again, my self-interest in directly from the- role- ihev play in women; self-help clinics, financed by the- government but under com­ changing society is bound up with society. Many segments of the Wom­ munity control, artificial insemina­ that of women who have children en's Movement are now beginning tei tion, sterilization procedures, facili­ much more deeply than it is, for ex­ implicitly recognize- this tenth and ties for extrauterine birth, and re- ample, with women demanding to act upon it. NOW [the National Iate-d technology to be- made widely equal pay for equal work, despite Organization for Women] is making available. Technology is a powerful the fact that I am single, childless, a major push to speak to the' needs tool which will free us to bear and and must work to support myself. If of housewives by agitating for an raise our children in our own way at I had to sum up in a few words what end to discrimination against mar­ our own time It must be turned over I feel to be: my own oppression in ried women by banks, insurance: companies, and credit unions. Radi­ to women noic, in order to prevent this society, I would say, "The: enor­ cal feminists are demanding le-ss that its becoming an even more powerful mous economic, social, and psycho­ women leave men, and suggesting weapon against us and indeed logical obstacles against bearing and that it might be- more effective in against all life. raising children of my own." While- building a revolutionary base if my situation as a fugitive seems to all women instead move to become the It is the uprising of women which but eliminate any hope that I might heads of their families. Outside- the will presage the end of oppression, raise a child of my own, even these consciously political segment of the but this uprising must be based on unusual circumstances are only Women's Movement, housewives more than opposition to oppression slightly more; handicapping than arc beginning to unite- and to agitate and the definition of Woman as those any other woman faces when for their common interests, starting Other. It must be an affirmation of contemplating motherhood without with lower food prices. More moth­ the power of female consciousness, marriage, or at least a stable rela­ ers are expressing their dissatisfac­ of the Mother The changes which tionship to a man. These- obstacles tions and talking about their prob­ it will embody can perhaps be better and the- tools to overcome- them are lems, while not necessarily seeing imagined as primarily spiritual and beginning to be studied and dove-l­ these as related to the Women's religious, rather than economic and oped by many different women, no­ Movement; more women within the social, though they will include and tably by lesbians who have- or want Movement are beginning to experi­ embody the latter. Thus a more apt to have children. The oppression ence their feelings as mothers as analogy than the Cuban or Chinesc suffered by women whose sexual feelings which are integral to their revolutions might be the Reforma­ preference is for other women is pe­ identities as women. tion or the- Christian revolution, or -9- perhaps the revolution made by the patriarchy itse-lf when the ancient from another point of view, we may them handed down from matriarchal gynocracies were invaded. I use remind ourselves that the violence; times, teach is a new age of con­ these analogies because- in each of of this cataclysm is no more nor less sciousness and simultaneously on . these cases the economic and politi­ than the outward sign of a struggle what seems scientifically to be- a cal changes were enormous, but they of the human spirit. It seems very threshold in the- evolution of the followed rather than preceded significant to me that simultaneously species, as the- gene-tic code is broken sweeping changes in human con­ with the contemporary rise of fem­ and life produced in the laboratory. sciousness. The ripples spread inism, there is a great rise of interest Could it not be that just at the mo­ through the institutions from the in psychic and spiritual phenomena. ment masculinity has brought us to masses of people, rather than the Because the Women's Movement the brink of nuclear de-struction or other way around. gets lumped with the left in many ecological suicide, women are- begin­ These were not, and never will be, people's minds, it is mistakenly re­ ning to rise in response to the gentle ripples. The oppressor is garded as narrowly "political." Yet Mother's call to save I lor planet and equipped with the tools of mecha­ feminism concerns more than politi­ create instead the next stage of evo­ nized violence as never before; we cal powe-r, essential as that is. It is lution? Can our revolution mean are only beginning to reclaim the closely tied to theories of awakening anything e-lse- than the- reversion of ancient rage that will defeat his evil. consciousness, of creation and re­ social and economic control to Her Feminism is teaching us, again, the- birth, and of the essential oneness of representatives among Womankind, healing power of anger trained on the universe—teachings which lie at and the resumption of Her worship the true enemies of ourselves and the heart of all Goddess-worshiping on the face of the Earth? Do we dare our children, and our anger will sup­ religions. demand less? D ply us the resources wc will need Wc arc on the threshold of what against the Man's weapons. Yet, all the ancient wisdoms, many of

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