The Women's Liberation Movement in Britain, 1969-79 : organisation, creativity and debate
This thesis challenges a historiography of British feminism of the 1970s which outlines a simplistic progression from unity towards fragmentation and disintegration. I argue that the divisions within feminism were much more complex than is assumed and that they were present from the very beginnings of the movement. Activities at grassroots level were as critical in the production of feminist theory as the major theorists, such as Kate Millett and Shulamith Firestone, who are most often cited. The project focuses largely on the internal structures and organisation of the women's movement as they developed over the 1970s, particularly in the London Women's Liberation Workshop. My principal concern is with written grassroots sources, such as the newsletter of the London Women's Liberation Workshop, national and sectarian conference papers, journals and pamphlets, all now located in various women's archives around Britain. The central section of the thesis discusses feminist fictional writing, poetry and art to show how a concern to develop theories about the position of women and the movement itself, was not limited to 'political' writings. Women's creative work did not simply display movement theory but was
Setch, Eve Grace
Feminism
The Women's Liberation Movement in Britain, 1969-79 : organisation, creativity and debate. This thesis challenges a historiography of British feminism of the 1970s which outlines a simplistic progression from unity towards fragmentation and disintegration. I argue that the divisions within feminism were much more complex than is assumed and that they were present from the very beginnings of the movement. Activities at grassroots level were as critical in the production of feminist theory as the major theorists, such as Kate Millett and Shulamith Firestone, who are most often cited. The project focuses largely on the internal structures and organisation of the women's movement as they developed over the 1970s, particularly in the London Women's Liberation Workshop. My principal concern is with written grassroots sources, such as the newsletter of the London Women's Liberation Workshop, national and sectarian conference papers, journals and pamphlets, all now located in various women's archives around Britain. The central section of the thesis discusses feminist fictional writing, poetry and art to show how a concern to develop theories about the position of women and the movement itself, was not limited to 'political' writings. Women's creative work did not simply display movement theory but was
women_liberation_movement britain organisation creativity debate challenge historiography_british feminism outline simplistic progression unity towards fragmentation disintegration argue division_within feminism much complex assume present beginning movement activities grassroots level critical production feminist_theory major theorist often cite project_focus largely internal_structure organisation woman_movement develop particularly london women liberation workshop principal concern write grassroots source newsletter london women liberation workshop national sectarian conference paper journal pamphlet locate various woman archive around britain central_section discus feminist fictional writing poetry art show concern develop_theory position_woman movement limited political_writing women creative work simply display movement theory