The Sex Question

In the writings of the 19th and early 20th century, the questions we associate with feminism were addressed under a variety of labels, one of the most economical of which was “the sex question,” which referred, in practice, to a wide range of question concerning sex, gender, sexuality, etc. The texts collected here cover a wide range of “women’s issues.” The current collection includes material previously contained in the following archives: La Frondeuse (Black and Red Feminist History), Anarchy and the Sex Question and A Beautiful Nihilist.

The Sex Question

Voltairine de Cleyre, “Kristofer Hansteen” (1906)

July 28, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
“OF the earth, unearthly—” The sentence remained unfinished as I had written it two years and a half ago when Disease laid its hand on me, and all my MSS. ended in a dash. It was a description of Kristofer Hansteen, an explanation of his work in Norway. And now that I am ready to pick up the thread of life again, I read that he is dead—of the earth no more, he who hardly ever belonged to it. At this moment the most insistent memory I have of that delicate, half-aërial personality are the words: “When the doctors told […]
The Sex Question

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The Making of an Anarchist” (1903)

July 28, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
[Miss de Cleyre is one of the most active propagandists of anarchy in the United States and Europe, and the intimate friend of leading anarchists here and abroad. To those intimately acquainted with the spread of the socialist, communist and anarchist idea, it will appeal as a remarkably candid sketch of one representative career, and an exposition, equally frank, of the principle of one great branch of the anarchist order. To those uninformed on the general subject, it will present many surprises—not the least of them being the revelation of character on the part of the writer herself.—Editor.] Here was […]
The Sex Question

Voltairine de Cleyre, “Owing to a misunderstanding…” (1895)

July 28, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
Owning to a misunderstanding of the publishers my name has been prematurely announced as Editor of The Rebel. Circumstances do not at present permit me to assume the responsibilities of that position, and the credit of the literary part of the undertaking is due solely to comrade Mowbray. If at some future time the duties fall to me, announcement will be made to that effect. Voltairine de Cleyre. Voltairine de Cleyre, “[Note: “Owing to a misunderstanding…”], The Rebel 1, no. 1 (September 20, 1895): 7.
The Sex Question

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The Past and Future of the Ladies’ Liberal League” (1895-96)

July 28, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
THE PAST AND FUTURE of the LADIES’ LIBERAL LEAGUE. By Voltairine de Cleyre I have assumed a serious and severe office that of historian and prophet. But, pardon me, I intend to be neither serious nor severe; for this is an occasion rather for exchanging greetings and putting ourselves in good humor than being serious, and my talk will be somewhat governed thereby. Our history is short, but, to borrow a ponderous phrase of Renan’s “of interest to the philosophic mind.” At last it ought to be; if it is not so much the worse for the philosophic mind. We […]
The Sex Question

Voltairine de Cleyre, “Some Nihilists I Have Met” (1893)

July 28, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
Some Nihilists I Have Met The word nihilist is so generally associated with darkness, secrecy, dynamite, assassination and blood, that had someone whispered five minutes before the encounter, “You are about to meet a Russian nihilist,” I should, no doubt, have hastily retreated to the shelter of law-abiding domiciles, far from the dirty, tortuous, downtown quarter, where, amidst a labyrinth of alleys and deceitful little streets that mockingly led against walls, and then turned back into one another, I found myself one snowy afternoon, picking my way somewhat disgustedly with no very clear idea concerning my exact whereabouts. One thing, […]
fiction

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The White Room” (1896)

July 28, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
It was an artist’s masterpiece. He had wrought it all with his own hands, after his idea, which grew as he wrought. It was not square nor long nor round, nor any regular shape, such as we are used to thinking of rooms; it was wider here and narrower there, and had strange turns and niches and carvings and arches; and in all these there were bits of statuary, or tiny fountains, or flowers, or curious sea things gathered from many shores, shells and corals and ocean feathers, picked up years apart. The light came from above as all light […]
obituaries and funeral orations

Voltairine de Cleyre, “Katherine Karg Harker—Obituary” (1896)

July 28, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
MRS. KATHERINE KARG HARKER.—OBITUARY.[note]An address delivered at the funeral of Mrs. Harker and at the grave. Mrs. Harker, who died at the age of seventy years, had been an Atheist for sixty years, and a member of the Philadelphia Liberal Club for the last twenty-five years.[/note] BY VOLTAIRINE DE CLEYRE. IN the presence of those solemnly closed eyes, these pulseless hands, these voiceless lips I come to speak, as someday I wish that one will speak for me, telling the truth of life and death, The trust of the dead is very sacred. There is but one thing equally so—and […]
The Sex Question

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The Hopelessly Fallen” (1902)

July 28, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
The Hopelessly Fallen I generally like what Kate Austin says and always admire the spirited way she says it; but I feel move to write a word of disagreement with her and others concerning this attitude towards “fallen women.” I do not know just what class of persons are included in that category; but from K. A.’s general blunt, straightforward, non-equivocating nature, and her strong determination to apply her faith under all circumstances, I suppose she means all, beginning with the young girl who has once deviated from the rigid line of conventional morality, and been found out, to the […]
The Sex Question

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The Hopelessly Fallen” (1902)

July 28, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
The Hopelessly Fallen I generally like what Kate Austin says and always admire the spirited way she says it; but I feel move to write a word of disagreement with her and others concerning this attitude towards “fallen women.” I do not know just what class of persons are included in that category; but from K. A.’s general blunt, straightforward, non-equivocating nature, and her strong determination to apply her faith under all circumstances, I suppose she means all, beginning with the young girl who has once deviated from the rigid line of conventional morality, and been found out, to the […]
The Sex Question

Francisco Ferrer, “L’École Rénovée” (1909; Voltairine de Cleyre, tr.)

July 27, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur
L’École Rénovée By Francisco Ferrer. Literal translation of an article written by Francisco Ferrer for the L’Ecole Renovee, the Paris review published in the interests of Modern Education. TO those who wish to renovate the education of children two methods are open: To work for the transformation of the school by studying the child, so as to prove scientifically that the present organization of education is defective and to bring about progressive modification; or, to found new schools in which shall be directly applied those principles corresponding directly to the ideal of society and of its units, as held by […]