July 17, 2025

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.

Voltairine De Cleyre, “Sunday Schools and Social Intercourse Among Liberals” (1890)

August 11, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

For the Boston Investigator. SUNDAY SCHOOLS AND SOCIAL INTERCOURSE AMONG LIBERALS Mr. Editor:—Among the many wants of the Free Thought movement is a much wider social intercourse than exists at present, a much more extensive […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The Old Shoemaker” (1896), with note and response

August 11, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

The Old Shoemaker He had lived a long time there, in the house at the end of the alley, and no one had ever known that he was a great man. He was lean and […]

“Voltairine De Cleyre at Greensburg” (1893)

August 11, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

For the Boston Investigator. VOLTAIRINE DE CLEYRE AT GREENSBURG. Mr. Editor:—In the little city of Greensburg, some thirty miles east of Pittsburgh, there are a few brave, strong souls who are making war on God […]

“Justice and Jehovah” (1888)

August 11, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

“JUSTICE AND JEHOVAH.” The Address of Miss Voltairine De Cleyre Before the Cleveland Secular Union Miss Voltairine De Cleyre of Grand Rapids addressed the Secular union in the Memorial hall last evening on the subject […]

Voltairine De Cleyre, “The Woman’s National Liberty Union” (1890)

August 10, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

THE WOMAN’S NATIONAL LIBERAL UNION Mr. Editor:—Hereafter let it not be said that the women of American are behind their brothers in the work of freeing the country from superstition’s shackles. The most radical organization […]

Susan H. Wixon, “When Womanhood Awakes” (1890)

August 10, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

WHEN WOMAN HOOD AWAKES. (Read at the Woman’s National Liberal Convention, Washington, D.C., February, 24, 1890.) No more shall error ’round her play In fitful moods and clouds of grey; Or cruel fancies crush her […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “Kent and Cleveland” (1888)

August 9, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

In the beautiful blush of the first autumn days our friends in Kent gave a course of lectures for the enlightenment of the believers of Kent and all the country “which compasseth it round about.” […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “Sex Slavery” (1890)

August 9, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

[two_third] Sex Slavery A Lecture Delivered by Voltairine de Cleyre before Unity Congregation, Philadelphia. Night in a prison cell! A chair, a bed, a small washstand, four blank walls, ghastly in the dim light from […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “The Drama of the Nineteenth Century” (1888)

August 9, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

THE DRAMA OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. BY VOLTAIRINE de CLEYRE. The passions of men are actors, events are their motions, all history is their speech. In the long play of the ages a human being […]

Voltairine de Cleyre, “State, Nature and Art” (1888)

August 9, 2017 Shawn P. Wilbur

God ought to be a Protestant. I couldn’t help thinking so the day I visited the Philadelphia House of Correction; and if anyone has the patience to hear me out, I think he will agree […]

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