1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Why did the feminist movement leave lesbians behind

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by stocking, Feb 2, 2014.

  1. stocking

    stocking Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    7,542
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    I heard that in the past when the feminist movement was just staring that they worked closely with lesbian with the whole and I also heard from several people that they have left lesbians behind and just focused on rights of women in general and not lesbians or things that don't have to do with lesbians . I'm wondering why did the movement leave lesbians behind ?
     
  2. Pret Allez

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    Messages:
    6,785
    Likes Received:
    67
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Gender:
    Female (trans*)
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Under the old theory of social movements, you wanted to push for "limited reforms" rather than pushing for everything at once. The feminist movement dropped lesbians on the floor because they thought that society "wasn't ready" for lesbian or gay liberation.

    That's a terrible theory of social movements, and it did serious damage to the feminist movement. It also did damage to the US labor movement, which would have been more successful if not for its history of racism.
     
  3. Krilky

    Krilky Guest

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2013
    Messages:
    247
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    South of San Jose
    Gender:
    Male
    Out Status:
    Not out at all
    I don't think that feminism has "left lesbians behind" in any way. Pret Allez argues that it's because of limited reforms and I think that's certainly true but I think we also have to realize what it has achieved. While women are still, unfortunately, treated very differently from men (#downwiththepatriarchy), think of how hard it is to pass a bill saying "women are permitted equal rights," and then think of how much harder it is to pass a bill saying "women are permitted equal rights, also, lesbians can marry."

    It was a different time at the genesis of the feminist movement where lesbians were sort of not supposed to exist so I can't fault early feminists for trying to solve a deeply rooted discrimination.

    Now I actually think the feminist movement is doing a lot for lesbian rights.
     
  4. stocking

    stocking Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    7,542
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    I think now is the best time and their doing the right thing .
     
  5. MattB

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Belgium
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    I'm not an expert in Feminism in the United States, but the feminist movements of my country (Brazil) have always advocated for equal rights for the LGBT population as well. The only dissident voice that I am aware of is that of radical feminists, also known as 'radfems', who do not consider transgender women as women because, in their interpretation, transgender women still carry the XY chromosomes.

    Curiously, some of these 'radfems' argue that the only way to be 'truly feminist' is through lesbianism, as there would be no sexual or romantic attachment to men.

    I think that maybe some people refer to one or two intellectuals from the feminist movements (there are several, by the way) as the whole feminist movements, which is not accurate. Perhaps that is the American case?
     
  6. stocking

    stocking Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    7,542
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    I'm not sure if it's the same in the usa .
     
  7. MattB

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Belgium
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Really? Would you kindly tell me who has left lesbians behind within the American Feminist movements? I'm curious, as the American feminists who I read are very vocal about gender and sexual identity equality. If you want, I can show you some texts and give you some links to some quite popular feminist blogs (from your country).
     
  8. Simple Thoughts

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2013
    Messages:
    3,426
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    I didn't think the feminist movement did ditch lesbians. I know that some of the women heading the feminist movement have been known to be transphobic, but beyond that I didn't think they had any bad blood with the LGBT community.
     
  9. stocking

    stocking Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    7,542
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Well I thought they ditch us because they focused more on just women rights and not rights for lesbians . I also heard some lesbians say they left us behind .
     
  10. Simple Thoughts

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2013
    Messages:
    3,426
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    Isn't feminism specifically about 'women's rights'? So wouldn't that make it's primary focus 'women as a whole' as opposed to a sub-group involving women?
     
  11. stocking

    stocking Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    7,542
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    I guess so but I heard they stop involving anything to do with lesbians like they tossed us out
     
  12. Simple Thoughts

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2013
    Messages:
    3,426
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    I see. Yeah that would be a low-blow. I couldn't imagine why though, my exposure to feminism seems like it would not only be pro-lesbianism, but encourage all women to completely just ditch men since we're inferior to women and no matter what we do we're all sexist pigs. xD
     
  13. MattB

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2014
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Belgium
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
  14. stocking

    stocking Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    7,542
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    lol:grin:
     
  15. Simple Thoughts

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2013
    Messages:
    3,426
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    I assume that this isn't all feminists, but the ones I've been exposed to/heard of are like that.
     
  16. stocking

    stocking Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    7,542
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Now that's going a bit to far .
     
  17. Simple Thoughts

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2013
    Messages:
    3,426
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    It is? 0.o
     
  18. stocking

    stocking Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    7,542
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    I meant by saying all men are pigs .
     
  19. Simple Thoughts

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2013
    Messages:
    3,426
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    Oh I thought I'd said something wrong. I really try to avoid doing such things. :slight_smile:
     
  20. stocking

    stocking Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    7,542
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Gender:
    Female
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    It's ok you didn't I was talking about what they said .