Building and Maintaining Feminist Institutions in Gainesville during the 1970s:

An Historical Analysis

Leila Adams
Ronald E. McNair Scholar

Outline

Methodology

Study

Significance

Terms/Existing Scholarship

Conclusions

New Research Questions

Methodology

7 oral histories from movement participants

20 issues of WomaNews

Other archives:
The Iguana

The Independent Florida Alligator

The Gainesville Sun

Feminist Institutions in Gainesville

1974 Rape Information Crisis Service

1974 Gainesville Womens Health Center

1975 Womens Center
Womanstore

WomaNews

Breakthrough

Significance

First five cities to develop a Womens Liberation Group between 1967 and 1968

Under-studied Giardina1967-1970

Contribute to social movement and feminist theory

Better understand the nature of feminist institutions

Defining Feminist Institution

Estelle Freeman: a separatist political strategy

Grassroots organization founded and operated by women for the purpose of serving womens political interests

Operates independently from men and resources provided by men to ensure complete woman control

Criticism of the Term Feminist Institution

Patricia Yancey Martin

an ideal type that is largely unattainable

Broadening the term Feminist Institution

Steven Buechlercontinuum

Bureaucratic
Ex: NOW
Peaceful Paths

Collectivist
Ex: Redstockings
Rape Information Crisis Service
Gainesville Womens Health Center
Womens Center

Conclusions

Feminist Institutions are not largely unattainablebut are difficult to maintain. As a result, they tend to move towards bureaucracy, while rarely moving towards collectivism.

Closing as Strategy not Failure: Feminist Institutions close to preserve themselves and reopen at more favorable times.
Womanstore/Amelias/Wild Iris

Feminist Institutions can receive outside funding and still maintain woman control.
Womens Center/WomaNews/Wild Iris

Future Research

1970 1973 and 1983 present

Investigate cross-racial alliances in the movement: Collaboration or Conflict?

Investigate the economic difficulties lesbian couples faced as business partners in founding institutions.

Special Thanks

Ronald E. McNair Undergraduate Research Program.

Dr. Trysh Travis, UF Center for Womens Studies and Gender Research.

Radical women still living in or near Gainesville, Florida.