To all women, lesbians and transsexuals interested in non mixed meetings

Since mid November, a non mixed group of women, lesbians and transsexuals have been meeting up every week. The need for a feminist dynamic on the ZAD already existed, but it has become much more pronounced over the past few weeks. We are faced more than ever with aggression, confrontations and sexist and homophobic behaviour.

Deep questions have been discussed at each meeting. We, a small group of inhabitants of the ZAD feel the need to define the political basis on which we want to organise ourselves. However, the existence of this group does not prevent the formation of other similar groups. We don’t claim a monopoly over the anti-sexist struggle.

Why a non mixed group? We think that workers should be able to organise themselves without the dominant presence of their bosses. In the same way, we women, lesbians and transsexuals choose non mixed meetings as a tool of political organisation. It is for us, who have had the experience as being perceived as women, to define our oppression and choose our forms of action without the presence of the dominant group. We want to take into account the social construction of gender, analyse it and understand its influence on our lives. If we deny it, how can we participate in its downfall?

Angry feminists! We reclaim the term ‘feminist’ as a political position, even if it includes a multitude of different definitions. For us, to call yourself feminist is to associate yourself with a history of struggles. It is to recognise that systems of oppression exist and must be opposed at every level of society. It is to consider particular situations that were created and upheld by systems of oppression. It is to analyse them using tools like this text. For example, it is clear to us that, in a discussion about sexist violence, there is no place for the story of a woman who hits a man.

The fact that the term is sometimes (perhaps often) judged too violent or extremist does not matter very much to us. It is no surprise that a struggle which challenges the privileges of half the population and the entire structure of society is constantly criticised.

Yes, sometimes we are violent because we are angry We are angry because of the violence that is thrown in our faces since the day we are born. We are angry that heterosexual sociability conditions so many interactions and that women are judged by their value on the heterosexual market. We are angry about these macho environments, sexual violence and repeated rapes. Rape is not just the dramatic event in a dark alleyway; it is every time that consent is not respected. We are angry that the same disgusting situations always arise surrounded by general indifference and the contempt towards those who try to expose or oppose it. We are angry that it is always the oppressed people who feel bad. We are angry and we see no reason to calm down. In the same way that being asked to justify throwing rocks at cops makes you angrier, so attempts to quieten us enrage us further.

Against the world and its airport For us, opposing this airport project is just a pretext to fight against all forms of domination. That of the state and its multinationals which impose their development projects is just one among others. We do not accept that it overshadows other forms of oppression such as classism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism. To stop this project would not be a victory at all if it does nothing to change existing dominant relationships.

Let’s organise ourselves! ...and meet up every Wednesday at 6pm at the Pink House to fight to free ourselves from sexist situations and practices, invent tools to empower ourselves collectively and individually. To exchange political opinions and feelings over a good meal, and talk about anything and everything.