Amazon Expedition: A Lesbian Feminist Anthology

by Phyllis Birkby (Editor), Esther Newton, Bertha Harris

"Before the 1970s, lesbians could publish their writing in nonspecific collective volumes, but not until 1973, with the publication of Amazon Expedition: A Lesbian Feminist Anthology, edited by Phyllis Birkby, was the lesbian anthology in its own right born." — Encyclopedia of Lesbian and Gay Histories and Cultures, George Haggerty & Bonnie Zimmerman (eds.)

"When lesbians within the gay liberation movement synthesized gay politics with feminism, they started a separate political/cultural development which thousands of women began to identify with. This is what this anthology is about. Culture, herstory, politics, celebration, Lesbianfeminism — one concept: the new womanity." — publisher.

Includes:

• "The Parable of Mothers and Daughters" and "The Sexual Abuse of Children: A Feminist Point of View" by Florence Rush
• "Lesbianism and Feminism" by Ti-Grace Atkinson
• "The New Misandry" by Joanna Russ
• "Emily Dickinson Feminist" by Rebecca Patterson
• "High School Crack-up" by Esther Newton
• "The Vision and Persecution of Aurora Phelps" by Arlene Kisner, Lois Hart, & Ellen Shumsky
• "Return of the Amazon Mother" and "The Comingest Womanifesto" by Jill Johnston
• "The More Profound Nationality of Their Lesbianism: Lesbian Society in Paris in the 1920s" by Bertha Harris

Genres: Feminism, Lesbian, LGBT, Nonfiction

96 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[fausto · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small collection of early radical feminist and lesbian feminist writtings. As long as I know some of them can only be found in this anthology. Is clear that they represent the very earliest stages of the development of lesbian feminist counciuosness, by 1973 the only lesbian-feminist books you can find probably where Del Martin and Phillys Lion's "Lesbian/Woman", Sidney Abott and Barbara Love's "Sappho Was A Right-On Woman" and Jill Johnston's "Lesbian Nation". And, of course, the radical manifestos and newspappers of the early lesbian alternative press. So the authors of the anthology were really brave wimmin.
Is a must read, specially for the Jill Johnston's papers and the fascinating article by Joanna Russ, but honestly, in general is kinda dated.
Contents:
The Parable of the Mothers and Daughters by Florence Rush
Lesbianism and Feminism by Ti-Grace Atkinson
The Sexual Abuse of Children by Florence Rush
The New Misandry by Joanna Russ
Emily Dickinson Feminist by Rebecca Patterson
High School Crack-Up by Esther Newton
The Vision and Persecution of Aurora Phelps by Arlene Kisner, Lois Hart & Ellen Shumsky
Return of the Amazon Mother by Jill Johnston
Lesbian Society in Paris in the 1920's by Bertha Harris
The Coming Womanifesto by Jill Johnston

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazon Expedition is a very interesting document from the early 70s. For starters, It was edited by Phyllis Birkby -- who is most known to lesbian history as the leader of "environmental fantasy" workshops where women and lesbians would sketch out their ideal worlds/living environments. Contributions also include Lesbian Anthropologist Esther Newton (author of Mother Camp - her PhD diss about the social world of pre-stonewall Drag Queens), Lesbian Sci-Fi Author Joanna Russ (author of The Female Man - dubbed science fiction's underground classic), Lesbian Separatist Jill Johnston, and Political Lesbian Ti-Grace Atkinson, and more

The collection of essays shows a wide range of early of lesbian consciousness raising and so the contents of the anthology are all over the place. It really showcases early lesbian/feminist thought before Lesbian-Feminism really became cohesive ideology (though some may argue it is still not!).

I picked this up because some of the essays can not be found anywhere else but they come up from time to time. This is definitely a document of historical interest rather than a book for political education.

[Kitty]

Not much there for me as far as anthologies go but Joanna Russ does it again with her SMASH HIT THE NEW MISANDRY!!!!