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Title: Anarchafeminist Manifesto
Author: Anonymous
Date: 1983
Language: en
Topics: feminist
Source: Retrieved on April 29th, 2009 from http://info.interactivist.net/node/5109
Notes: The origin of the Anarchafeminist Manifesto is in Norway. The Anarchafeminist Manifesto is the summary of the feminist political program unanimously agreed upon by the third congress of the Anarchist Federation of Norway, 1—7 of June 1982. The manifesto was first published in Norwegian in “Folkebladet” (IJA) no 1 1983 pp. 4—5. Soon after the “Manifesto” was published in CRIFA-Bulletin no 44 mars—avril 1983 in French (p. 12) and English (p. 13). Later on the French version was used as the basis for a translation to English that was published on the Internet. The “Manifesto” is also translated to other languages. Anarchafeminst greetings from Anna Quist, co-writer of the “Anarchafeminst Manifesto.” Translated from French (Bulletin C.R.I.F.A. No 44 mars—avril 1983 p. 12).

Anonymous

Anarchafeminist Manifesto

All over the world most women have no rights whatsoever to decide upon

important matters which concern their lives. Women suffer from

oppressions of two kinds: 1) the general social oppression of the

people, and 2) secondly sexism — oppression and discrimination because

of their sex.

There are five main forms of oppression:

Ideological oppression, brainwash by certain cultural traditions,

religion, advertising and propaganda. Manipulation with concepts and

play upon women’s feelings and susceptibilities. Widespread patriarchal

and authoritarian attitudes and capitalistic mentality in all areas.

State oppression, hierarchical forms of organization with command

lines downwards from the top in most interpersonal relations, also in

the so-called private life.

Economic exploitation and repression, as a consumer and a worker in

the home and in low-salary women’s jobs.

Violence, under the auspices of the society as well as in the private

sphere — indirectly when there is coercion because of lack of

alternatives and direct physical violence.

Lack of organization, tyranny of the structurelessness which

pulverizes responsibility and creates weakness and inactivity.

These factors work together and contribute simultaneously to sustain

each other in a vicious circle. There is no panacea to break the circle,

but it isn’t unbreakable.

Anarcha-feminism is a matter of consciousness. The consciousness which

puts guardians off work. The principles of a liberating society thus

stand perfectly clear to us.

Anarcha-feminism means women’s independence and freedom on an equal

footing with men. A social organization and a social life where no-one

is superior or inferior to anyone and everybody is coordinate, women as

well as men. This goes for all levels of social life, also the private

sphere.

Anarcha-feminism implies that women themselves decide and take care of

their own matters, individually in personal matters, and together with

other women in matters which concern several women. In matters which

concern both sexes essentially and concretely women and men shall decide

on an equal footing.

Women must have self-decision over their own bodies, and all matters

concerning contraception and childbirth are to be decided upon by women

themselves.

It must be fought both individually and collectively against male

domination, attitudes of ownership and control over women, against

repressive laws and for women’s economic and social autonomy and

independence.

Crisis centers, day care centers, study and discussion groups, women’s

culture activities etc. must be established, and be run under womens’s

own direction.

The traditional patriarchal nuclear family should be replaced by free

associations between men and women based on equal right to decide for

both parts and with respect for the individual person’s autonomy and

integrity.

Sex-stereotyping in education, media and at the place of work must be

abolished. Radical sharing of the work by the sexes in ordinary jobs,

domestic life and education is a suitable mean.

The structure of working life must be radically changed, with more

part-time work and flat organized cooperation at home as well as in

society. The difference between men’s work and women’s work must be

abolished. Nursing and taking care of the children must concern men just

as much as women.

Female power and female prime ministers will neither lead the majority

of women to their ends nor abolish oppression. Marxist and bourgeoisie

feminists are misleading the fight for women’s liberation. For most

women it is not going to be any feminism without anarchism. In other

words, anarcha-feminism does not stand for female power or female prime

ministers, it stands for organization without power and without prime

ministers.

The double oppression of women demands a double fight and double

organizing: on the one hand in feminist federations, on the other hand

in the organizations of anarchists. The anarcha-feminists form a

junction in this double organizing.

A serious anarchism must also be feminist otherwise it is a question of

patriarchal half-anarchism and not real anarchism. It is the task of the

anarcha-feminists to secure the feminist feature in anarchism. There

will be no anarchism without feminism.

An essential point in anarcha-feminism is that the changes must begin

today, not tomorrow or after the revolution. The revolution shall be

permanent. We must start today by seeing through the oppression in the

daily life and do something to break the pattern here and now.

We must act autonomously, without delegating to any leaders the right to

decide what we wish and what we shall do: we must make decisions all by

ourselves in personal matters, together with other women in pure female

matters, and together with the male fellows in common matters.