Building and Building and Maintaining Feminist Maintaining Feminist Institutions in Institutions in Gainesville during the Gainesville during the 1970s:1970s:An Historical AnalysisAn Historical Analysis

Leila Adams

Ronald E. McNair Scholar

OutlineOutline

MethodologyMethodology StudyStudy SignificanceSignificance Terms/Existing ScholarshipTerms/Existing Scholarship ConclusionsConclusions New Research QuestionsNew Research Questions

MethodologyMethodology

7 oral histories from movement 7 oral histories from movement participantsparticipants

20 issues of 20 issues of WomaNewsWomaNews

Other archives: Other archives: The IguanaThe Iguana The Independent Florida AlligatorThe Independent Florida Alligator The Gainesville SunThe Gainesville Sun

Feminist Institutions in Feminist Institutions in GainesvilleGainesville 1974 – Rape Information Crisis Service1974 – Rape Information Crisis Service

1974 – Gainesville Women’s Health 1974 – Gainesville Women’s Health CenterCenter

1975 – Women’s Center1975 – Women’s Center– WomanstoreWomanstore– WomaNewsWomaNews– BreakthroughBreakthrough

SignificanceSignificance

First five cities to develop a Women’s First five cities to develop a Women’s Liberation Group between 1967 and Liberation Group between 1967 and 19681968

Under-studied – Giardina 1967-1970Under-studied – Giardina 1967-1970

Contribute to social movement and Contribute to social movement and feminist theoryfeminist theory

Better understand the nature of feminist Better understand the nature of feminist institutionsinstitutions

Defining “Feminist Defining “Feminist Institution”Institution”

– Estelle Freeman: “a separatist political Estelle Freeman: “a separatist political strategy”strategy”

– Grassroots organization founded and Grassroots organization founded and operated by women for the purpose of operated by women for the purpose of serving women’s political interestsserving women’s political interests

– Operates independently from men and Operates independently from men and resources provided by men to ensure resources provided by men to ensure “complete woman control”“complete woman control”

Criticism of the Term Criticism of the Term “Feminist Institution”“Feminist Institution”

Patricia Yancey Martin – Patricia Yancey Martin –

– ““an ideal type that is largely an ideal type that is largely unattainable”unattainable”

Broadening the term Broadening the term “Feminist Institution”“Feminist Institution”

Steven Buechler – continuumSteven Buechler – continuum

Bureaucratic

Ex: NOW

Peaceful Paths

Collectivist

Ex: Redstockings

Rape Information Crisis Service

Gainesville Women’s Health Center

Women’s Center

ConclusionsConclusions

Feminist Institutions are not “largely Feminist Institutions are not “largely unattainable” but are difficult to maintain. unattainable” but are difficult to maintain. As a result, they tend to move towards As a result, they tend to move towards bureaucracy, while rarely moving towards bureaucracy, while rarely moving towards collectivism. collectivism.

Closing as Strategy not Failure: Feminist Closing as Strategy not Failure: Feminist Institutions close to preserve themselves and Institutions close to preserve themselves and reopen at more favorable times.reopen at more favorable times.– Womanstore/Amelia’s/Wild IrisWomanstore/Amelia’s/Wild Iris

Feminist Institutions can receive outside Feminist Institutions can receive outside funding and still maintain woman control.funding and still maintain woman control.– Women’s Center/Women’s Center/WomaNewsWomaNews/Wild Iris/Wild Iris

Future ResearchFuture Research

1970 – 1973 and 1983 – present 1970 – 1973 and 1983 – present

Investigate cross-racial alliances in the Investigate cross-racial alliances in the movement: Collaboration or Conflict? movement: Collaboration or Conflict?

Investigate the economic difficulties Investigate the economic difficulties lesbian couples faced as business lesbian couples faced as business

partners in founding institutions.partners in founding institutions.

Special ThanksSpecial Thanks

Ronald E. McNair Undergraduate Ronald E. McNair Undergraduate Research Program.Research Program.

Dr. Trysh Travis, UF Center for Women’s Dr. Trysh Travis, UF Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research. Studies and Gender Research.

Radical women still living in or near Radical women still living in or near Gainesville, Florida. Gainesville, Florida.