Gouines rouges
Encyclopedia
The Gouines Rouges are a French
radical feminist
lesbian
movement.
The Gouines Rouges were founded in April 1971, responding to a desire to assert themselves in the heart of both the feminist movement and the homosexual movement, and the fear that lesbians were in danger of disappearing.
then launched a campaign for free abortion
and contraceptives.
The Front Homosexuel d'Action Révolutionnaire
(Homosexual Front for Revolutionary Action) (FHAR), a radical movement rejecting reforms in favor of homosexuality
deemed inadequate or timid, was created a month earlier on the initiative of MLF activists and some members of the organization Arcadie.
The "alliance between the MLF girls and the FHAR gays" seemed so obvious that no one questioned the gender-mixing of the FHAR. Members of both movements felt victimized by "phallocracy" and wanted "the free disposition of [their] body. " Anne-Marie Fauret, in issue #12 of the leftist newspaper Tout, sums up this position: "Our place is at the intersection of movements that will free women and homosexuals. The power that we claim is our self-realization."
But the appearance of Tout #12, in which gays and lesbians publicly spoke out in a far-left newspaper for the first time, tipped the balance between the sexes over to the male side. Flocking to the FHAR, the lesbians felt marginalized, the number of the latter remaining substantially the same. Feminist activists felt dispossessed by the FHAR.
Ultimately, the militant lesbians held a meeting against the FHAR's "misogyny
" in the Beaux-Arts auditorium. Some fifty activists, aged between twenty and thirty-five, founded the Gouines Rouges. The name was taken from the invective of a hostile passerby during a demonstration.
The movement became known through leafleting at the entrances to women's clubs in Pigalle
and Chez Moon. In June 1971, a party at Les Halles was organized "to celebrate with joy the beginning of our rebellion, to come out of our ghettos, to finally live our love in broad daylight." (see Bibliothèque Marguerite-Durand, MLF dossier)
Shortly afterward the group split off from the FHAR for the MLF to meet as an informal discussion group. Concepts such as "becoming lesbian by political choice" were introduced or discussed there. The Gouines Rouges asserted themselves within the MLF with "happening
s" in the general meetings, with themes like "Are lesbians women?" or "Our problem is yours too," or during the "Days of denunciation of crimes against women," held at the Mutualité
on June 12-13, 1972.
Meetings of the Gouines Rouges then became more infrequent, despite the encouragement of Monique Wittig
.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
radical feminist
Radical feminism
Radical feminism is a current theoretical perspective within feminism that focuses on the theory of patriarchy as a system of power that organizes society into a complex of relationships based on an assumption that "male supremacy" oppresses women...
lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
movement.
The Gouines Rouges were founded in April 1971, responding to a desire to assert themselves in the heart of both the feminist movement and the homosexual movement, and the fear that lesbians were in danger of disappearing.
History
In April 1971 the Mouvement de Libération des Femmes (Women's Liberation Movement) (MLF) had existed for two and half years. Three hundred women who were coming regularly to the general meetings of the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-ArtsÉcole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
then launched a campaign for free abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and contraceptives.
The Front Homosexuel d'Action Révolutionnaire
Front homosexuel d'action révolutionnaire
The front homosexuel d'action révolutionnaire was a loose Parisian movement founded in 1971, resulting from a rapprochement between lesbian feminists and gay activists. If the movement could be considered to have leaders, they were Guy Hocquenghem and Françoise d'Eaubonne, while other members...
(Homosexual Front for Revolutionary Action) (FHAR), a radical movement rejecting reforms in favor of homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
deemed inadequate or timid, was created a month earlier on the initiative of MLF activists and some members of the organization Arcadie.
The "alliance between the MLF girls and the FHAR gays" seemed so obvious that no one questioned the gender-mixing of the FHAR. Members of both movements felt victimized by "phallocracy" and wanted "the free disposition of [their] body. " Anne-Marie Fauret, in issue #12 of the leftist newspaper Tout, sums up this position: "Our place is at the intersection of movements that will free women and homosexuals. The power that we claim is our self-realization."
But the appearance of Tout #12, in which gays and lesbians publicly spoke out in a far-left newspaper for the first time, tipped the balance between the sexes over to the male side. Flocking to the FHAR, the lesbians felt marginalized, the number of the latter remaining substantially the same. Feminist activists felt dispossessed by the FHAR.
Ultimately, the militant lesbians held a meeting against the FHAR's "misogyny
Misogyny
Misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. Philogyny, meaning fondness, love or admiration towards women, is the antonym of misogyny. The term misandry is the term for men that is parallel to misogyny...
" in the Beaux-Arts auditorium. Some fifty activists, aged between twenty and thirty-five, founded the Gouines Rouges. The name was taken from the invective of a hostile passerby during a demonstration.
The movement became known through leafleting at the entrances to women's clubs in Pigalle
Quartier Pigalle
Pigalle is an area in Paris around the Place Pigalle, on the border between the 9th and the 18th arrondissements. It is named after the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle ....
and Chez Moon. In June 1971, a party at Les Halles was organized "to celebrate with joy the beginning of our rebellion, to come out of our ghettos, to finally live our love in broad daylight." (see Bibliothèque Marguerite-Durand, MLF dossier)
Shortly afterward the group split off from the FHAR for the MLF to meet as an informal discussion group. Concepts such as "becoming lesbian by political choice" were introduced or discussed there. The Gouines Rouges asserted themselves within the MLF with "happening
Happening
A happening is a performance, event or situation meant to be considered art, usually as performance art. Happenings take place anywhere , are often multi-disciplinary, with a nonlinear narrative and the active participation of the audience...
s" in the general meetings, with themes like "Are lesbians women?" or "Our problem is yours too," or during the "Days of denunciation of crimes against women," held at the Mutualité
Maison de la Mutualité
The Maison de la Mutualité is a conference center at 24 Rue Saint-Victor, 5th arrondissement of Paris, France. The closest métro station is Maubert-Mutualité....
on June 12-13, 1972.
Meetings of the Gouines Rouges then became more infrequent, despite the encouragement of Monique Wittig
Monique Wittig
Monique Wittig was a French author and feminist theorist who wrote about overcoming socially enforced gender roles and who coined the phrase "heterosexual contract". She published her first novel, L'Opoponax, in 1964...
.