THE mainstream Anarchist movement was systematically hijacked by left-wing dogmatists some time ago and many contemporary Anarchists seem to think that what many perceive as ‘feminism’ today is a key part of Anarchist philosophy. However, as the following three examples from some of the earliest Portuguese Anarchists demonstrate, that was never the case in the beginning.

It goes without saying, of course, that voting rights for women are not consistent with Anarchism due to our wholesale rejection of the electoral system. According to a 1906 edition of the Portuguese newspaper, A Vida,

“suffrage, my poor friend, besides what we have said is quite simply the alienation of will, individual abdication, recognition of despotic power.”

One anonymous Anarchist from 1908 said that

“a woman shall be free on the same day man is free. And to both only social revolution can bring freedom […] That will be Anarchy’s moment of joy.”

Another, from 1911, says of feminism:

“How horrible! How horrible! The feminist leaders want to be voters, soldiers and priests. Is progress a crab?”