The practice of lesbian mutual care is characterized by the sharing of resources, time, energy, knowledge, and labor between individuals who identify as lesbians. This form of ethical practice can be traced back to the earliest days of the feminist movement, when women began to challenge traditional gender roles and create new ways of living together based on equality, autonomy, and collective action. In recent years, this form of ethics has become increasingly popular among lesbians and queer people, who often refer to it as "dyke solidarity" or "dyke economies".
There are many different forms that lesbian mutual care can take, including but not limited to financial support, emotional support, physical assistance, childcare, healthcare, and legal aid. Some examples include forming collectives where members pool their resources to buy a home or car, creating networks of mutual aid groups for mental health or disaster preparedness, and organizing events and activities for lesbian-identified youth. These practices can help build a sense of community, strengthen relationships within the LGBTQ+ community, and empower marginalized groups to provide for themselves in an environment that may not always support them.
One important aspect of lesbian mutual care is the way it challenges heteronormative expectations about what makes a good relationship. In mainstream culture, romantic partnerships are often defined by ownership, possession, and dependency; however, lesbian mutual care promotes independence, collaboration, and shared decision-making. Lesbians who engage in this type of ethical practice believe that they can better meet each other's needs and desires through cooperation rather than competition.
Another key feature of lesbian mutual care is its focus on self-sufficiency and sustainability. By sharing resources with one another, lesbians are able to create more resilient communities that are less vulnerable to external forces like economic crisis or political oppression. This kind of communal living can also reduce individual stress levels and increase overall well-being.
Lesbian mutual care can be seen as a form of resistance against capitalism and patriarchy. By rejecting traditional gender roles and redefining power dynamics, these types of ethical practices challenge the status quo and open up new possibilities for personal growth and social transformation. As feminist philosopher bell hooks writes, "we have an obligation to free ourselves.by any means necessary."
While lesbian mutual care is certainly not without its challenges - such as negotiating differences in power and privilege among members of the group - it remains an essential part of queer culture and an inspiring model for alternative ways of relating. Whether you're looking for support in your own relationships or seeking to build a stronger community with others, there's much to learn from this unique form of ethics.
What forms of communal ethics grow from lesbian mutual care?
Communal ethics are based on shared values, beliefs, and experiences that bind people together in a community. The idea is that everyone in the community should feel responsible for one another's wellbeing, and this sense of responsibility can manifest itself through various practices such as taking care of each other, sharing resources, supporting one another financially, and looking out for each other's interests.