In The Ladies' Room: Womyn's Lands

This week, In The Ladies' Room - by TNG Events Planner Amelie and her BFF, Anne - attempts to become a little more serious by discussing something other than what's on the TV box.

Last week, The New York Times published an article about womyn's lands, communities of lesbian women--and lesbian women only--across the country. The article focused on one particular women's community in Florida called Alapine. As a Women and Gender Studies major (and a lesbian) I'm fairly familiar with these communities. One of my college mentors lived in one in upstate New York during the 1970s, and her stories of "the farm with all the half-naked lesbians" are ones I always find both humorous and fascinating.

But while I find stories about life in these communities interesting and inspiring, that doesn't mean I want to live in one. And that's the problem.

The article explains that womyn's lands are having many of the same problems that convents are having - they can't draw in younger members. Unless they can manage a major recruiting effort, womyn's lands may be extinct within the next 20-30 years. The NYT article outlines different reasons for why womyn's lands are having trouble attracting younger members - a generational gap in politics and a lack of job opportunities.

For me, it's a combination of those two issues and a few others. Looking first at job opportunities, that's definitely a big one. Since most womyn's lands are in rural locations, it would be difficult to commute to a job in a nearby city. As for work on the land, I'm the opposite of handy or crafty (unless you're talking about bedazzling or sticker-by-number unicorn mosaic kits).

Changing politics is another major issue. I know very, very few lesbians who feel like living in a woman-centric space is a necessity or a requirement. Womyn's lands stem directly from second-wave feminist ideals; they do not hold a lot of relevance for today's third and post-third wave women. Although young lesbians still prefer the company of women over men, the idea of forming a community specifically to avoid men just seems implausible or unnecessary.

I have other reasons, too. If I were to pack my bags and move to Alapine tomorrow, I'd be the lone 22 year old living in a group of 50- to 75-year-olds. While there is definitely one part of me that is old lady, that's a very specific part of me. And while that part of me enjoys spending quality time with the elderly, it's not something I could do on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, I just don't like the countryside - I was raised in a city, and the quiet and the darkness scare me. I also dislike bugs, snakes, frogs and birds. I have horrible allergies, and from what I've heard, the country is full of all sorts of trees, leaves, grass and flowers.

But when it comes down to it, I think the reason young lesbians aren't rushing to join or create their own private living spaces is because lesbians are able to do that now without taking the extreme measures of creating a community like Alapine. With the expansion of women's rights and a broader acceptance of lesbianism, young lesbians don't have to retreat to places like Alapine to find acceptance. Being able to live out in the open and to be self-sufficient has allowed women's communities to form all over the nation in a variety of different forms. While young lesbians may have to encounter men during small, everyday transactions, if it was so desired, that woman could avoid men in almost every other regard. I know plenty of women who would say they existed in a solely female circle. Young lesbians still seem to desire many of the things the women of Alapine desire - we are just able to obtain them in different ways.

Would you ever join a womyn's land? Do you think all-female communities are necessary?