Thesis Anna Gurun Final

301 Pages·2017·5.87 MB·English

by  Murat Gurun

University of Dundee
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Second-Wave Feminist Approaches to Sexuality in Britain and France, c.1970-c.1983
Gurun, Anna
Award date:
2015
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Download date: 13. Mar. 2023
Second-Wave Feminist Approaches to Sexuality in Britain
and France, c.1970 – c.1983

Anna Gurun

Thesis presented for the Degree of PhD
University of Dundee
December 2015
i

Contents
Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... iv
Index of Tables ................................................................................................... vi
Index of Images ................................................................................................. vii
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................... viii
Abstract ............................................................................................................... x
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1
The Politics of Sexuality ...................................................................................... 1
Writings on the British Movement ........................................................................ 6
Writings on the French Movement .................................................................... 12
Themes and Issues ........................................................................................... 18
Methods and Sources ....................................................................................... 21
Thesis Overview ................................................................................................ 27
Chapter One: Mapping the Movement ........................................................... 29
Early Days ......................................................................................................... 29
Social Profile ..................................................................................................... 30
Structuring Women’s Liberation ........................................................................ 34
Currents within the British Movement ................................................................ 37
Currents within the French Movement .............................................................. 43
Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 50
Chapter Two: Abortion .................................................................................... 51
The Legal Situation in Britain and France ..................................................... 51
Britain ............................................................................................................... 55
The Context of Rights ........................................................................................ 55
From Male Involvement to Bodily Autonomy ..................................................... 58
Abortion, Class and 'Sexual Liberation' ............................................................. 64
The Feelings Behind the Slogans ..................................................................... 69
France ............................................................................................................... 73
'Notre ventre nous appartient': Abortion and Bodily Autonomy ......................... 73
ii
Abortion, Illegality, and Class ............................................................................ 79
Entering the Public Sphere: From The 'Manifeste du 343 Salopes' to The
'Bobigny Trial' .................................................................................................... 85
Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 94
Chapter Three: Lesbianism ............................................................................ 95
The Broader Context of Lesbianism in British and French Society ........... 96
Britain ............................................................................................................. 100
Lesbianism and Gay Liberation ....................................................................... 100
The Right to A Self-Defined Sexuality ............................................................. 102
'Feminism is the theory, lesbianism is the practice' ......................................... 107
Lesbian Sexual Practices and Politics ............................................................. 113
France ............................................................................................................. 116
Lesbianism and the Front Homosexuelle d'Action Révolutionnaire (FHAR) ... 117
Lesbianism within the MLF: Les Gouines Rouges .......................................... 121
Lesbianism and Political Identity ..................................................................... 126
The Debate over Political Lesbianism within Question Féministes ................. 128
Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 134
Chapter Four: Pornography ......................................................................... 136
The Broader Legal and Social Context........................................................ 136
Definition ......................................................................................................... 136
Legislation ....................................................................................................... 138
Britain ............................................................................................................. 142
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 142
Early Debates on Pornography and Censorship within the WLM ................... 143
The Moral Right and 'Sexual Revolution' ......................................................... 146
The Impact of an Image: Pornography, Violence, and Objectification ............ 150
France ............................................................................................................. 159
Introduction ...................................................................................................... 159
'Sexual Revolution' and the Public Space ....................................................... 160
Sexual Freedom? ............................................................................................ 162
L'Histoire d'O, Violence and Objectification ..................................................... 165
Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 170
Chapter Five: Prostitution ............................................................................ 172
iii
The History of Prostitution: Legislation and Debates in Britain and France
......................................................................................................................... 173
France ............................................................................................................. 179
The Occupation ............................................................................................... 179
The Occupation and Outsiders: The MLF and Le Mouvement du Nid ............ 186
L'affaire Barbara .............................................................................................. 193
Britain ............................................................................................................. 196
Feminism, Prostitution and Sexuality .............................................................. 196
Prostitute Activism ........................................................................................... 199
The Occupation ............................................................................................... 203
Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 208
Chapter Six: Rape ......................................................................................... 210
Legislative and Judicial History of Rape in Britain and France ................ 210
Britain ............................................................................................................. 214
Feminist Approaches to Rape ......................................................................... 214
'All Men Are Potential Rapists’: Male Violence and Social Control ................. 217
Feminist Activism: Rape Crisis Centres and Protests ..................................... 222
Feminist Activism: Reclaiming Public Spaces ................................................. 227
France ............................................................................................................. 231
Feminist Approaches to Rape ......................................................................... 231
Feminist Activism: Class and Sexual Violence ................................................ 235
Feminist Activism: Rape and the Judicial System ........................................... 242
Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 248
Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 249
A Comparative Approach: The Context of Sisterhood .................................... 250
A Comparative Approach: Diverging Movements ........................................... 253
Looking Forward .............................................................................................. 255
Appendix I: The Seven Demands .................................................................... 257
Appendix II: Overview of French Feminist Groups .......................................... 258
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………259
iv
Abbreviations

Britain
Anti-Rape Group/Rape Action Leeds Revolutionary Feminist
Group Group
ARG LRFG

Campaign Against Pornography L o n d o n R a p e A c t i o n G r oup
CAP LRAC

Consciousness-Raising National Abortion Campaign
cr NAC

Black Women For Wages For National Health Service
Housework NHS
BWFWH
National Women’s Liberation
Doctors For A Woman's Choice On Conference
Abortion NWLC
DWCA
Prostitutes For The Reform Of
English Collective Of Prostitutes S olicitation
ECP PROS

Feminists Against Censorship P rostitution Laws Are Nonsense
FAC PLAN

Gay Liberation Front R ape Crisis Centre
GLF RCC

Reclaim The Night
RTN
v
Society For The Protection Of The
Unborn Child Women Against Violence Against
SPUC Women
WAVAW
Trades Union Congress
TUC Women's Liberation Movement
WLM
Wages For Housework
WFH Women’s Liberation Workshop
WLW
Women Against Rape
WAR

France
Féminin Masculin Avenir M o uvement Pour La Liberté de
FMA l'Avortement Et De La Contraception
MLAC
Front Homosexuelle d'Action
Révolutionnaire Nouvelles Questions Féministes
FHAR NQF

Groupe Information Santé P s y chanalyse Et Politique
GIS Psych et Po

Le Mouvement du Nid
Le Nid Questions Féministes
QF
Le Mouvement pour la Liberté de
l'Avortement
MLA Vive la Révolution
VLR
Mouvement de Libération des
Femmes
MLF
vi
Index of Tables

Figure 2.1: Details regarding legal abortions performed in England and Wales.
vii
Index of Images

Figure 0.1: Protest at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Figure 2.2: ‘C’est tout de même chouette de vivre quand on est désiré’.

Figure 2.3: Gisèle Halimi talking to the press outside the courtroom at the
‘Bobigny Trial’.

Figure 3.1: FHAR group at May 1 Protest, Paris 1971.

Figure 4.1: ‘Tooth and Nail’, Spare Rib, No.78, January 1979.

Figure 5.1: Occupation of Saint-Nizier Church, June 2, 1975.
viii
Acknowledgements

There are a lot of people to thank in the creation of this thesis. First of all, my
(many!) supervisors who have helped me along the way. Prof. Perry Willson,
Dr. Anja Johansen, Prof Callum Brown, Dr. Maud Bracke and Dr. Anna
Bellavitis.
I am lucky enough to have had many friends who have patiently listened
to me moan and pushed me to see why it was all worth it. Everyone in Paris,
who helped make my time there not only rewarding but fun; Michael Scott and
Jen Wallace. Special thanks has to go to Emma Ward, not only for her proof-
reading and book-finding skills, but also for being a vital source of friendship in
so many ways. Julie Danskin, who has been an invaluable part of my life these
past four years. Huge thanks are due for your edits and encouragements
alongside your unflagging support and use of emojis.
Finally, my family, without whom this thesis would never have been
finished. Lara and Marc, and particularly my parents – Murat and Joan – whose
love and support is essential in everything I do. It is to them that this thesis is
dedicated.