Graham R (Ed.) - Anarchism - A Documentary History of Libertarian Ideas Volume One - From Anarchy to Anarchism (300 CE to 1939)

238 / ANARCHISM
The struggle against the patriarchal regime is at present raging in almost every
village and in every family. In the rural community, the Mir has degenerated to the
point where it has become an instrument of the State. The power and the arbitrary
bureaucratic will of the State is hated by the people and the revolt against this power
and this arbitrary will is at the same time a revolt against the despotism of the rural
community and of the Mir.
68. Louise Michel: Women's Rig/Its (1886)
Following the Paris Commune (Selectioll 30), Louise Michel was imprisoned and then exiled
in 1873 to a French penal colony in New Caledonia. On the way there she became all avowed
anarchist. Reflectillg on the defeat of the Commune, she later wrote: "Dishonest 11Iet!, ill
power, are harmful; honest men, in power, are ineffective. Liberty and power cannot possibly
go tog,elller" (as quoted ill Edith Thomas, Louise Michel, Montreal: Rlack Rose Books, 1980,
page 34 1). Afier a general pardon was granted to the COll//IlLlllOrds ill 1880, she returned to
France to advocate Qllarclw and social revolution. She was arrested and imprisoned several
more times, the 1110St severe sentence of 6 years being imposed in 1883 fo r /eading a demonstration
through Paris carrying the black flag of anarchy. Although she spent 1110St of the
1890's ill vO/lIntmy exile in Englalld, she freqllet!t/y retllrned to Frallce fo r speaking tours,
with the theme of women 's rights being a CO/11/11on topic. The fo llowing excerpts are taken
from tIle chapter 011 "Women's Rights" in The Red Virgin: Memoirs of Louise Michel
(Tusca/oosa: University of A/abama Press, 1981; originally published 1886), ed. and trans. B.
Lowry alld E. E. Gunter, and are reprinted with the kil1d permission of the publisher.
,A .. LL THE \A/O1 EJ'.J REl\DING THESE \'1 Ev1 0IRS nlust renlenlber thdl we W0l11en are not
judged the same way men are. When men accuse some other man of a crime, they do
not accuse him of such a stupid one that an observer wonders if they are serious. But
that is how they deal with a woman; she is accused of things so stupid they defY belief.
If she is not duped by the claims of popular sovereignty put forth to delude peopie,
or if she is not fooled by the hypocritical concessions which hoodwink most
women, she will be indicted. Then, if a woman is courageous, or if she grasps some
bit of knowledge easily, men claim she is only a "pathological" case.
At this moment man is master, and women are intermediate beings, standing
between man and beast. It is painful for me to admit that we are a separate caste,
made one across the ages.
For many years the human race has been lying in its cocoon with its wings
folded; now it is time for humanity to unfold its wings. The human race that is emerging
from its cocoon will not understand why we lay supine so long.