Circles of Power: Shifting Dynamics in a Lesbian-Centered Community

by LaVerne Gagehabib, La Verne Gagehabib

A compelling study of the Southern Oregon Women's Community, one of the most vital and dynamic alternative communities to take root during America's back to the land movement of the 1970s. The editors provide an in-depth analysis of the roots, heart, and spirit of this lively and largely lesbian circle of women which extends from the border of Northern California up the I-5 corridor through Eugene, Oregon.

Genres: Lesbian, Feminism

216 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[fausto · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent analysis of some women's land collectives (WomanShare, Rootworks & OWL Farm specially) the books studies the way race, class and separatism became hot topics on the land women, but also is very interesting for their crone-ological study of the change of politics on this communes, from a pure lesbian separatist politics to a more open-alternative focused on the autonomy of the lesbians, but dealing with the problems of mainstream society

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most comprehensive secondary source I have found that examines identity struggles that fall outside of gender and sexuality. The analysis of WOC and class on the Southern Oregon women's lands was particularly useful for my research. My one complaint is the way in which the oral histories were recorded. Sometimes quotes were not identified and there was no way to access the oral histories themselves so we must rely on Gagehabib and Summerhawk's analysis.