Non-mixing: two little words that give rise to great debates. Those who are
supporters of it very quickly see themselves labeled as ugly separatistfeminists. However, it is an emancipatory political tool, essential in the
process of awareness-raising specific to feminist struggles. ---- Text from the
Libertarian Communist Union website. Link to the original, here . ---- As members
of the "women" social category, we endure a whole lot of assaults on a daily
basis: whistling, sexist reflections, ads, hands to buttocks, macho jokes ... We
have also all been more or less directly confronted with sexual violence, through
our personal experience or that of loved ones. To be able to say this violence is
to be able to become aware of it and above all to be able to politicize it: it is
not simple accidents of individual course but many social acts, tolerated and
encouraged by the patriarchal system. It is by being aware of this that we can
give a collective and political response to all the acts of gender-based violence
that we experience on a daily basis.
A freer word
It is easier to tackle these issues in a single sex group, in particular because
the presence of men may encourage some to minimize the violence experienced, for
fear of appearing accusatory towards their male comrades. Moreover, when men
attend these kinds of exchanges, it is not uncommon for them to interfere with
the debate by asserting that they are for gender equality and that they have
never, at never, of sexist behavior. Moreover, as we know, in mixed spaces
speaking tends to be appropriated by men, who often feel more legitimate to
speak, even on subjects which do not concern them directly. In the same way that
they should be careful not to confiscate the speech of women, we need to gain
confidence in ourselves to feel as legitimate as they do to express ourselves in
public. For some, this means in particular a first speaking in a non-mixed
setting, which is easier and often less distressing.
Getting together to discuss feminism, patriarchy, mode of action, etc., is not so
trivial as it may seem: groups of women who are involved in politics, on their
own, who are self-reliant. organize is still rare, even in politicized circles.
A history of politics
All the more so since if the female non-mixing is often disputed, that of the men
which often occurs in fact, in particular in several militant groups of the left,
is, it, not subject to caution. We will retort that this male unmixedity is not
intentional, unlike that of women. This is where the shoe pinches: women exclude
themselves from certain overly virilist political groups where they do not find
their place. So even if it is not claimed, male single sex is created by men who
adopt attitudes that are not very conducive to the integration of women into
their groups (macho jokes, virility contests, etc.). As feminists,
"Single sex is excluding and discriminating"
Non-mixing is above all an inter-self rather than an exclusionary and
discriminating practice. Men are not discriminated against: they are not excluded
because of their biological sex, but because of the place they occupy in the
patriarchal system, namely that of dominant. This position, even if they do not
intentionally take advantage of it, still brings them undeniable material, social
and political benefits (they are not raped, bullied, excluded, beaten up,
belittled ... and so much the better!).
It is therefore above all a matter of finding oneself in a non-mixed framework
between people oppressed by the same system (the patriarchy) in order to give
oneself the tools to fight male domination. In addition, the holding of
single-sex meetings does not prevent these issues from being discussed also in a
mixed setting.
Auréline (Alternative Libertaire Toulouse)
by Collectif Emma Goldman
http://ucl-saguenay.blogspot.com/2021/09/lutte-contre-le-patriarcat-non-mixite.html
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