2011 Alex Ellis Warner ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

221 Pages·2011·1.99 MB·English

©2011
Alex Ellis Warner
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
“WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD:”
FEMINISM, SEX AND THE PROBLEM OF SM, 1969-1993
by
ALEX ELLIS WARNER

A Dissertation submitted to the
Graduate School-New Brunswick
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Graduate Program in History
written under the direction of
Nancy Hewitt
and approved by
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
New Brunswick, New Jersey
May 2011
ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION

“Where Angels Fear to Tread:”Feminism, Sex and the Problem of SM, 1969-1993

By ALEX ELLIS WARNER

Dissertation Director:
Dr. Nancy Hewitt

This study is the first to document the history of the lesbian sadomasochist (SM)
community and demonstrates its impact of the feminist Sex Wars in the United States
between 1969 and 1993. Bringing together foundational literature and methods of inquiry
from women’s studies, queer theory and the history of other excluded social groups, my
dissertation highlights issues of power, resistance and collective identity formation.
Drawing on newspaper articles and other published sources, archival research and oral
histories, I argue that one cannot understand the history of movements for gender, sexual
and sexuality equality without also understanding this issue. This project charts the
evolution of feminist sexual theory from the 1960s through the 1990s, illuminates
ruptures in feminist and gay/lesbian liberation theory and practice and reveals the history
and the long-lasting implications of these debates. I show how lesbian SM helped to
shape the pornography debates, the development of both queer theory and the field of
sexuality studies and was integral to major shifts in American politics and culture in the
last two decades of the twentieth century.
ii
and when we speak we are afraid
our words will not be heard
nor welcomed
but when we are silent
we are still afraid
So it is better to speak
remembering
we were never meant to survive
Audre Lorde, “A Litany for Survival”

For what is life but reaching for an answer?
And what is death but a refusal to grow?

Mary Oliver, “Magellan”
iii
for Jo

who spoke so that we might live instead of just survive
and was the first to speak to me of our history …
iv
Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I offer many pranams to my Higher Power, in all
manifestations of gods, goddesses and prophets. The gifts I have been given are
immeasurable and matched only by my humble gratitude and hope that I have done and
continue to do the best with what I have been given.
I would not have made it through graduate school without the indefatigable Nancy
Hewitt, who served as both an intellectual and professional mentor. Her wisdom,
patience and kindness helped me grow not only as a scholar but as a person. The lessons
she has taught me go far beyond what I could have hoped for, and I am forever grateful
for everything she has done for me.
I am indebted to the Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute of Harvard
which provided financial and intellectual support at a crucial moment in my research, and
am particularly thankful to the amazing research and library staff there. I am also
grateful to the Lesbian Caucus Scholarship of the National Women’s Studies Association
which offered both financial support and a vote of confidence that helped me continue
my work. The staff and volunteers at the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco, the
Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn, the Barnard Women’s Center and the Iowa
Women’s Archives were all incredibly helpful. Both Shaun Illingworth of the Rutgers
Oral History Project and Astrid Cravens of the Barnard College Archives went above and
beyond the call of duty in helping me, and so I thank them. I am also deeply
appreciative of the Leather Archives and Museum, which not only opened their archives
to me but supported me in countless other ways. Specifically, I am thankful to Rick
Storer, who encouraged me from our first meeting so many years ago, and, together with
v
his husband, Jeff Storer, provided countless hours of help in my research, always with a
smile.
Of course, many thanks go to those who supported my intellectual growth. My
committee, Seth Koven, Alison Isenberg and Alice Echols are all deserving of much
gratitude for their patience and indispensable feedback that helped this become a real
dissertation. My true beginning as a historian came in Mrs. Harding’s high school
history, as my love of education was simultaneously fostered by Mr. O’Neill’s passion
for good poetry and literature. Professors Janette Greenwood, Sarah Deutsch, Amy
Froide and Cynthia Enloe fostered my growth during my years at Clark. And of course,
all of my colleagues, teachers and students at Rutgers contributed to this project. In
particular, I am grateful to the participants of Institute for Research on Women seminars
who gave me crucial feedback that helped the project move forward. The students in the
IRW Learning Communities also pushed me to think critically about a number of key
issues, reminding me that I still have much to learn. But most of all, I am thankful for the
staff and faculty of the CWGL and IRW, Beth, Dorothy, Lucy, Marlene, Sarah, and
Yolanda, whose support provided a much needed space to grow and thrive, as a scholar
and a feminist.
The women who created this history, and those who shared their stories with me,
are especially deserving of acknowledgement. Without them this project would not have
been possible. Indeed, in many ways, I would not have been possible. From the depths
of my heart, I thank each and every one of you.
My many communities are also worthy of much praise and gratitude. Throughout
the years, the congregation of MCC Christ the Liberator offered a haven of safety and the
vi
New York boys of Leather supplied much needed laughter and camaraderie. Bobbie,
Diane, Nancy and the other yoga teachers and students of Soma Center created a refuge
that renewed my soul and gave me the strength to follow this sometimes arduous path.
The Rutgers women’s basketball team showed me that I could care about sports and I am
grateful for Jewel Daney and her cohort of fans who embraced my sporting ignorance. A
broad range of fellow graduate students from a wide range of departments, together with
their friends and families, helped me feel a real sense of community in Highland Park.
And the sisters of the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival yearly create a home that I
return to each August. I am particularly grateful for the folks of Alternative Family
Camping: Attessa, Aunti Laura, Chris, Kimberly, K.O., Marty, Scout, Shelley and
SMr.bS Treat. I can’t thank you enough for the laughter and the fun, but most of all, for
the cuddles.
I am grateful to the partners who have graced my life throughout graduate school:
Kian, Glow, Suka, Dawn Marie, Jenn and J. Though our paths have diverged, I am
thankful for the time we spent together and the lessons learned, sometimes through tears
and painful growth, but always with love. Along those lines, I am appreciative of each of
my other lovers, play partners and Leather friends and family, past, present and future,
who shall remain nameless to protect the not-so-innocent. Cait Field deserves a special
mention for her love and friendship, not to mention completely reliable sense of
direction, which has been there since the beginning and, I hope, will be so for many years
to come. Katie Diamond has earned my thanks for her tireless efforts on my behalf,
whether through artwork, font choice or witty retorts.
vii
I’ve often said that everyone should have someone who is one step ahead of them
in graduate school and that is because I had Sarah Cushman as that friend for me, always
there with a kind and timely word of encouragement. Similarly, Susan Menahem cannot
be thanked enough for her advice, comfort and guidance. Bella, Jenean Rombola, Marc
Germain and Jeff Nilsen also deserve recognition for their friendship throughout the
years; I am so glad each of them are still in my life. Levi Halberstadt has served as my
Chief of Staff, best friend and Leather brother essentially since the day we met. I am
eternally grateful for his willingness to “stand in the fire with me and not shrink back.”
Thank you to my extensive family of origin who, though they often did not
understand what I was doing or why, continued to offer me love and support. In
particular, I am thankful to all three of my parents, Rachel and Steven Barra and Stephen
Warner, and my godmother, Mary Brady. My sister and brother-in-law, Emily and
Rabindra Misir, provided many smiles and laughter, not to mention two incredible nieces,
Faith and Devi, who’ve helped me remember why we are here. Thank you also to the
Terrells, for the gifts of acceptance and love, but most importantly for the love of my life.
Words cannot express the depth of the gratitude I feel for the person who sees and
loves me best. Amber, thank you, my angel, for every time you washed my mug, left me
alone so I could write, and most of all, for the times you ignored or forgave my insanity
that was part and parcel of completing this project. I know I can never repay you for the
kindness, compassion and love you’ve given me, but I will spend the rest of my life
trying.
Thank you to all who contributed to what is right about this project; all the
shortcomings and mistakes are mine alone. And lastly, dear reader, thank you. Namaste.
viii
Table of Contents

Abstract ii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v

Introduction 1
Chapter One: The “Razor’s Edge” of Feminist Boundaries 20
Chapter Two: More than Scuff Marks to Report 52
Chapter Three: “Feminism meets Fist-Fucking” 94

Chapter Four: Irreconcilable Differences 127

Chapter Five: Sexual Politics 156

Chapter Six: Unresolvable Tensions 188

Bibliography 205

ix