theres a great story about a lesbian separatist community in this weeks nytimes online. id forgotten such places exist. makes me want to explore more and see where else there may be enclaves like this.
its interesting to note that they are worried that their community will die off as they do and that their lifestyle apparently isnt something that a lot of younger women look for these days.
I think this may have been the same article my friend sent me, to which I referred a little while back.
You know, out here, in Arizona, as well as in other parts of the country, we have "retirement" communities, with strict housing requirements, which include the minimum age of the residents. Sometimes, it seems a bit strict, or unfortunate, but then again, if people don't want to live next door to a pacel of elementary school aged children, and make the effort to move to such a place which assures them that won't happen, then that's their "right" and no one has been causing much stir over that since Del Web opened "Sun City" back in, I think, the 1960's.
Are the residents there subjected to derision and accusation of being "separatist?" Possibly, but I've honestly never heard it, and I've been living here a long time. Are these "seniors" accused of being children haters? Nope. Are they oblivious to the fact that there DO exist people under fifty in the world? I don't think so. The message seems to be that it's really okay to be a separatist a lot of places, but for some reason, women aren't suppose to break off for a time and be with just women. That that is somehow a bad, and bigoted thing, and that those women who do sometimes choose the company of "just" women are as bad as your run of the mill racist or homophobe.
We seem to have subscribed in some subtle ways to the notion that "separatist" -- or at least selectivity on specific occasions, is somehow a "bad" thing, but it's something everyone practices in one way or another in their lives all the time. Churches are PACKED with "separatists."
I remember once saying the word "menopause" in a group which consisted of me, two women, and two men. The men IMMEDIATELY recoiled, made faces, said "ewwwwwwwwwwww" and were generally embarrassed. Learning experience for me. I've not made that mistake since. Although the two women were very comfortable with the phrase, the guys weren't. I don't casually talk about menopause to, or in front of men any more. Just a choice I've made. There ARE times, though, when I DO want to talk about it. That would technically be "separatist" behavior. Is that a "bad" thing? No, I don't think so. I also don't think I would have posted the word "vagina" on the AOL Dr. Laura board, because I frankly didn't want to run the risk of embarrassing or making uncomfortable the men who also posted on that board. There was no need. Yeah, I absolutely understand that it's a completely innocent medical term, and "SHOULDN'T" be cause for discomfort with anyone, male, or female, but the simple truth is, it IS. I think each one of us here knows a man who would at the very least blush if, in mixed company, we started talking about vaginas. I know people in the theatre who STILL can't articulate "The Vagina Monologues." -- people of both genders, btw. I once had a copy of it with me, and was reading it as I was flying across country, with two airport lay overs. Mothers would YANK their "just learning to read age" boys by the arm away from me, when they saw my book cover. :)
I think there are different degrees of separatism. I know the Michigan Women's festival has long recieved flack from men and women alike for their not admitting men to their summer camp out-concert. I myself sometime scratch my head when male babies are excluded from things like that, but I respect the choice of the organizers.
theres a great story about a lesbian separatist community in this weeks nytimes online. id forgotten such places exist. makes me want to explore more and see where else there may be enclaves like this.
its interesting to note that they are worried that their community will die off as they do and that their lifestyle apparently isnt something that a lot of younger women look for these days.
