Freewoman
Encyclopedia
The Freewoman was a feminist weekly published between November 23, 1911 and October 10, 1912 and edited by Dora Marsden
and Mary Gawthorpe
.
Although The Freewoman published articles on women's waged work, housework, motherhood, the suffrage movement, and literature, its notoriety and influence rested on its frank discussions of sexuality, morality, and marriage. The Freewoman urged tolerance for male homosexuality, advocated for free love
, and encouraged women to remain unmarried.
The Freewomans editorial stance distinguished it sharply from the attitude of suffragists like Millicent Fawcett
who was so disturbed at the journal's approach to sexuality that she tore the first issue into little pieces.
In March 1912 Gawthorpe resigned due to poor health and disagreements with Marsden. In September 1912, W H Smith
refused to carry The Freewoman and in October 1912, the journal folded.
Although its circulation probably never exceeded 200, it had a significant influence in Modernist circles. Among its contributors were Rebecca West
, H. G. Wells
, Edward Carpenter
, and Guy Aldred
.
In June 1913 Marsden started The New Freewoman
which was more concerned with literary modernism than feminism and was funded by Harriet Shaw Weaver
. In 1914, The New Freewoman became The Egoist
.
Dora Marsden
Dora Marsden was an English feminist editor of avant-garde literary journals, and an author of philosophical writings.-Early life:...
and Mary Gawthorpe
Mary Gawthorpe
Mary Eleanor Gawthorpe was a British suffragette, socialist, trade unionist and editor, described by Rebecca West as "a merry militant saint"....
.
Although The Freewoman published articles on women's waged work, housework, motherhood, the suffrage movement, and literature, its notoriety and influence rested on its frank discussions of sexuality, morality, and marriage. The Freewoman urged tolerance for male homosexuality, advocated for free love
Free love
The term free love has been used to describe a social movement that rejects marriage, which is seen as a form of social bondage. The Free Love movement’s initial goal was to separate the state from sexual matters such as marriage, birth control, and adultery...
, and encouraged women to remain unmarried.
The Freewomans editorial stance distinguished it sharply from the attitude of suffragists like Millicent Fawcett
Millicent Fawcett
Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett, GBE was an English suffragist and an early feminist....
who was so disturbed at the journal's approach to sexuality that she tore the first issue into little pieces.
In March 1912 Gawthorpe resigned due to poor health and disagreements with Marsden. In September 1912, W H Smith
W H Smith
WHSmith plc is a British retailer, headquartered in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It is best known for its chain of high street, railway station, airport, hospital and motorway service station shops selling books, stationery, magazines, newspapers, and entertainment products...
refused to carry The Freewoman and in October 1912, the journal folded.
Although its circulation probably never exceeded 200, it had a significant influence in Modernist circles. Among its contributors were Rebecca West
Rebecca West
Cicely Isabel Fairfield , known by her pen name Rebecca West, or Dame Rebecca West, DBE was an English author, journalist, literary critic and travel writer. A prolific, protean author who wrote in many genres, West was committed to feminist and liberal principles and was one of the foremost public...
, H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
, Edward Carpenter
Edward Carpenter
Edward Carpenter was an English socialist poet, socialist philosopher, anthologist, and early gay activist....
, and Guy Aldred
Guy Aldred
Guy Alfred Aldred - often Guy A. Aldred - was a British anarchist communist and a prominent member of the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation...
.
In June 1913 Marsden started The New Freewoman
The New Freewoman
The New Freewoman was a monthly London literary magazine edited by Dora Marsden and owned by Harriet Shaw Weaver. Initially Rebecca West was in charge of the literary content of the magazine, but after meeting Ezra Pound at one of Violet Hunt's parties in 1913 she recommended that he be appointed...
which was more concerned with literary modernism than feminism and was funded by Harriet Shaw Weaver
Harriet Shaw Weaver
Harriet Shaw Weaver was a political activist and a magazine editor. She also became the patron of James Joyce....
. In 1914, The New Freewoman became The Egoist
The Egoist (periodical)
The Egoist was a London literary magazine published from 1914 to 1919, during which time it published important early modernist poetry and fiction. In its manifesto, it claimed to "recognise no taboos," and published a number of controversial works, such as parts of Ulysses...
.
External Links
- The Freewoman at the Modernist Journals ProjectModernist Journals ProjectThe Modernist Journals Project was created in 1995 at Brown University in order to create a database of digitized periodicals connected with the period loosely associated with modernism. The University of Tulsa joined in 2003...
: all 47 issues, from No. 1.1 (November 23, 1911) through No. 2.47 (October 10, 1912)