THE FURIES COLLECTIVE was
a short-lived commune of twelve young lesbian separatists in
Washington, D.C., in 1971 and 1972. The exact date of its establishment
is difficult to ascertain, but it is known that in the Fall of 1971,
twelve women moved into 219 11th St., SE, Washington, D.C. so we make
note of it on this first day of Autumn.
The women viewed
lesbianism as more political than sexual, and declared heterosexual
women to be an obstacle to the world revolution they sought. Their
theories are still acknowledged among feminist groups.
The Furies
Collective was, along with the Gay Liberation House and the Skyline
Collective, among Washington, D.C.'s best known communal living groups
in the early 1970s. They were an example of lesbian feminism which
emerged during the women's movement of the late 1960s and 1970s.
The twelve women
in the collective were aged eighteen to twenty-eight, all feminists, all
lesbians, all white, with three children among them. They shared chores
and clothes, held some of their money in common, and slept on
mattresses on a common floor.
All of the
founding members had extensive organizing and activist experience before
they started The Furies. In particular, many were members of the
women's movement, specifically the DCWLM (D.C. Women's Liberation
Movement). The group was modeled after other revolutionary movements
such as the Black Panther Party and the Weathermen. In this sense, they
aimed to promote a global revolution through the establishment of small
radical groups. They wanted to abolish patriarchy, white supremacy and
imperialism. They were particularly devoted to developing and exploring
feminist theory, especially the way in which sexual identity is socially
constructed.
As part of their
mission, they started a school to teach women auto and home repair so
they would not be dependent on men. Members called for other feminists
to create more communes wherein women could nurture their relationships
with one another away from male chauvinism. Not only men, but
heterosexual women were also seen as impediments to progress.
Most of the members of the collective wrote for their newspaper, The Furies.
From January 1972 until mid-1973, the paper was published and
distributed nationally. In the first issue in January 1972,
contributor Ginny Berson stated her view that: "Sexism is the root of
all other oppressions, and Lesbian and woman oppression will not end by
smashing capitalism, racism, and imperialism. Lesbianism is not a matter
of sexual preference, but rather one of political choice which every
woman must make if she is to become woman-identified and thereby end
male supremacy."
The
Furies received criticism from other feminist publications for using
elitist, male-determined standards of language and theory. The criticism
included focusing on theory because it was a tool used and created by
men which ultimately perpetuates male power. Additionally, critics
argued that The Furies publishing the names of authors undermines
the collective nature of knowledge in the movement and upholds
hierarchical power structures that parallel those in society. The
members of the collective included little coverage of this criticism in
their publication which some insisted displayed their unwillingness to
engage in discussions with other women. This resistance to criticism and
devotion to theory above personal experience alienated many women and
hindered the Furies' ability to expand their membership in order to
achieve their mass movement goals.
The group
promoted a model of lesbianism for all members of the women's movement,
an alternative identity which combined sexual orientation, gender
identity, and radical philosophy.
For member Charlotte Bunch, to be a lesbian "is to love oneself,
woman, in a culture that denigrates and despises women." Berson also
stated "Lesbians must become feminists and fight against woman
oppression, just as feminists must become Lesbians if they hope to end
male supremacy."
According to Rita Mae Brown in Rita Will, the
members of the collective were "Rita Mae Brown, Charlotte Bunch, Tasha
Byrd [sic], Ginny Berson, Sharon Deevey, Susan Hathaway, Lee Schwin
[sic], Helaine Harris, Coletta Reid, Jennifer Woodull [sic], Nancy Myron
and Joan E. Biren (J.E.B.)" The names marked "[sic]" are actually Tasha
Petersen or Peterson, Lee Schwing, and Jennifer Woodul.
The collective
did not last long (1971 - 1972) but its influence was felt beyond the
group's end. Theoretical contributions to the women's movement included
connecting the enforcement of heterosexuality with women's oppression,
understanding sexual orientation as culturally, rather than
biologically, constructed, and the legitimacy of lesbian feminism within
the women's movement. Future
feminist groups across the country cited the importance of the Furies'
theoretical developments of feminism to their own organizing efforts.
Former members of the collective went on to other organizing and
activist positions, especially in media and publishing.
The first two members asked to leave were Joan E. Biren and Sharon Deevey, followed shortly thereafter by Rita Mae Brown. The newsletter survived the disbanding of the collective in the spring of 1972 by about a year. Olivia Records was founded in 1973 by former group members and the Radicalesbians
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