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nycfem · 08-21-2011, 04:55 PM

I grew up with my dad dominating my mom (and not in the fun way). I used to have panic attacks as I listened to him control her. When I was in high school in suburban Ohio, I found a book in my school library, a massive anthology called "Radical Feminism" published in 1973 (the year after I was born). Thank Goddess for that because it became my Bible! I was particularly intrigued by the essays on Radical Lesbianism Feminism. That is absolutely when I became a feminist, and I began seeking out as much feminist lesbian literature as I could at our local women's/lesbian bookstore, in the "bad" part of town, a wonderful place that no longer exists called "Crazy Ladies."

When I got to college, I remember I'd even introduce myself by saying, "I'm Jennifer, and I'm a radical lesbian feminist." I was fiercely taken by this whole way of thinking and being that was so different than what I saw in my house, my school, and in my community growing up. In college I set up an independent study with a lesbian feminist professor on Lesbian Separatism. I read as much as I could about wimmin's land and the whole radically matriarchal way of life. I was so empowered by what felt like wholly undiluted feminism.

As I got older, I parted ways with a number of aspects of 1970's radical lesbian feminism, particularly with separatism. Butch/Femme was not universally accepted (though it was in some circles), nor was BDSM or bisexuality or trans politics. Because of this, separatist politics became much too narrow for me to fully subscribe to, but I am still thankful for what I learned in this movement. 1970's radical lesbian feminism opened up a whole world to me, and still informs my perspective to this day.

08-21-2011, 04:55 PM	#13
nycfem Moderator How Do You Identify?: femme sub Preferred Pronoun?: Baby Grrl Relationship Status: Attached Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 6,794 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 52,987 Thanked 21,447 Times in 5,101 Posts Rep Power: 21474855	I grew up with my dad dominating my mom (and not in the fun way). I used to have panic attacks as I listened to him control her. When I was in high school in suburban Ohio, I found a book in my school library, a massive anthology called "Radical Feminism" published in 1973 (the year after I was born). Thank Goddess for that because it became my Bible! I was particularly intrigued by the essays on Radical Lesbianism Feminism. That is absolutely when I became a feminist, and I began seeking out as much feminist lesbian literature as I could at our local women's/lesbian bookstore, in the "bad" part of town, a wonderful place that no longer exists called "Crazy Ladies." When I got to college, I remember I'd even introduce myself by saying, "I'm Jennifer, and I'm a radical lesbian feminist." I was fiercely taken by this whole way of thinking and being that was so different than what I saw in my house, my school, and in my community growing up. In college I set up an independent study with a lesbian feminist professor on Lesbian Separatism. I read as much as I could about wimmin's land and the whole radically matriarchal way of life. I was so empowered by what felt like wholly undiluted feminism. As I got older, I parted ways with a number of aspects of 1970's radical lesbian feminism, particularly with separatism. Butch/Femme was not universally accepted (though it was in some circles), nor was BDSM or bisexuality or trans politics. Because of this, separatist politics became much too narrow for me to fully subscribe to, but I am still thankful for what I learned in this movement. 1970's radical lesbian feminism opened up a whole world to me, and still informs my perspective to this day.