,BEYOND ,NEGATIVITY3 ,:AT ,COMES ,AFT] ,G5D] ,NIHILISM8 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ALYSON ,ESCALANTE 

,TEXT 3 

,I'VE SP5T QUITE A LOT ( TIME TRY+ TO FIGURE \T H[ TO RESPOND TO MY PREVI\S WORK ,G5D] ,NIHILISM3 ,AN ,ANTI-,MANIFE/O4 ,= ! LA/ YE> OR SO1 ,I'VE HAD A V]Y /RONG CONVICTION ?AT ,I MU/ RESPOND TO IT1 BUT HAVE /RUGGL$ TO DO SO ADEQUATELY4 ,I WROTE AN ADD5DUM ?AT IS N[ ATTA*$ TO ! ORIG9AL >TICLE :]E IT IS HO/$ ON ,LIBCOM4 ,I HAD FELT IT WAS NECESS>Y TO TRY TO EXPLA9 ! CONTEXT 9 :I* ,G5D] ,NIHILISM WAS WRITT51 & TO EXPLA9 ! CRITICISMS IT HAD G5]AT$4 ,I'VE SP5T ! YE>S S9CE ! ORIG9AL PO/+ ( ,G5D] ,NIHILISM RUM9AT+ ON ! MANY CRITICISMS IT RECEIV$1 AS WELL REFLECT+ ON ! MANY PEOPLE :O REPORT$ F9D+ IT USEFUL1 9SI<TFUL1 & RADICAL4 

,9 MY M9D1 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM HAS A MIX$ LEGACY4 ,IT IS1 SOMETIMES TO MY FRU/RATION1 ! MO/ POPUL> WORK ,I HAVE EV] WRITT51 & IT HAS RECEIV$ GREAT] DI/RIBUTION ?AN ,I C\LD EV] HAVE IMAG9$4 ,GIV5 ! SURPRIS+ POPUL>ITY ( ! >TICLE1 IT HAS BE5 MY CONVICTION ?AT ,I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO WRITE SOME?+ :I* C\LD CORRECT SOME ( ! ]RORS ( ! ORIG9AL !ORY4 ,?IS ESSAY IS MY ATTEMPT TO DO SO4 

,9 BROAD /ROKES1 MY ?\<TS ON ,G5D] ,NIHILISM & ! IDEAS ?AT DEVELOP$ >\ND IT >E AS FOLL[S3 

,G5D] NIHILISM CORRECTLY DIAGNOS$ A PROBLEM4 ,:AT ,I AT ! TIME CALL$ 0! PROLIF]ATION ( ID5TITY0 DESIGNATES1 ,I BELIEVE1 A REAL TR5D )9 ,L,G,B,T & QUE] DISC\RSE 9 :I* !RE IS A T5D5CY T[>DS 5DLESSLY DEVELOP+ TAXONOMIES TO MAP \T DIFF]5CE4 ,?IS DIFF]5CE IS 9DE$ CONCEPTUALIZ$ AS AN ONTOLOGICAL DIFF]5CE1 ?AT REFLECTS SOME SORT ( /ABLE SUBJECT FROM :I* KN[L$GE ( ?AT DIFF]5CE CAN BE DIV9$ VIA ! CORRECT DISC\RSES ( ID5TITY4 ,?AT IS A REAL PROBLEM ?AT PLAGUES ,L,G,B,T ACTIVISM TO ?IS DAY4 ,9 ?AT S5SE1 ! CRITICISM =W>D$ 9 ! >TICLE /ILL MA9TA9S RELEVANCE4 

,G5D] NIHILISM C\LD NOT1 H[EV]1 GO BEYOND ?IS 9ITIAL DIAGNOSIS4 ,IT FAIL$ AT ! CRUCIAL TASK ( E/ABLI%+ A !ORY ( ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 ?IS IDEOLOGY ( DIFF]5CE & ! MAT]IAL CONDITIONS FROM :I* G5D] EM]GES4 ,PUT MORE SIMPLY1 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM C\LD ACCURATELY PO9T \T A PROBLEM1 BUT IT WAS UNEQUIPP$ TO EXPLA9 :AT ! S\RCE ( ?AT PROBLEM IS4 

,RA!R ?AN ACTUALLY ATTEMPT TO MAT]IALLY 9VE/IGATE ! CLASS 9T]E/S AT PLAY 9 PRODUCTION ( G5D]$ DIFF]5CE1 G5D] NIHILISM SETTL$ ) SAY+ 0,IF ! PROBLEM IS PROLIF]ATION !N ! SOLUTION MU/ BE ITS OPPOSITE1 !RE=E \R TASK IS TO NEGATE 5DLESSLY40 ,?IS SOLUTION C\LD NEV] HAVE BE5 ADEQUATE BECAUSE IT RESPONDS TO AN IDEOLOGICAL ISSUE AT ! LEVEL ( IDEOLOGY4 ,FI<T+ IDEOLOGY ) C\NT]-IDEOLOGY1 RA!R ?AN ELIM9AT+ & RE%AP+ ! MAT]IAL CONDITIONS FROM :I* ! FIR/ IDEOLOGY EM]G$4 ,?IS WAS NEV] A USEFUL SOLUTION OR CONTRIBUTION TO !ORIES ( RESI/ANCE TO G5D]4 

,! WORK TO BE DONE1 IF WE WANT TO REVITALIZE ! CRITICAL 9SI<T ( G5D] NIHILISM IS TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE ! MAT]IAL BASE FROM :I* ! IDEOLOGY ( DIFF]5CE & TAXONOMY EM]GES4 

,I HOPE ?AT ?IS ESSAY WILL ATTEMPT TO 9VE/IGATE ?AT MAT]IAL BASE1 & TO PROVIDE 9SI<T 9TO :AT A MAT]IALI/ PROJECT 7:I* TAKES ! CRITIQUES 9 MY ORIG9AL >GUM5T S]I\SLY7 W\LD LOOK LIKE4 ,9 ORD] TO DO ?IS ,I WILL FIR/ REEVALUATE ! ORIG9AL CRITIQUE ,I =W>D$ 9 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM TO REASSESS ITS CURR5T RELEVANCE4 ,SECOND1 ,I WILL TURN TO ! WORK ( ,MONIQUE ,WITTIG 9 ORD] TO PROVIDE A MAT]IALI/ ACC\NT ( IDEOLOGIES ( SEXUAL DIFF]5CE4 ,F9ALLY ,I WILL EXAM9E :AT A MAT]IALI/1 & ?OR\<LY NON-NIHILI/ PROJECT ( RESI/ANCE TO SU* AN IDEOLOGY & ITS MAT]IAL BASE MI<T LOOK LIKE4 

,:AT ,WAS ,G5D] ,NIHILISM83 

,G5D] ,NIHILISM3 ,AN ,ANTI-,MANIFE/O OP5S ) ! CLAIM ?AT 0,! CURR5T POLITICS ( TRANS LIB]ATION HAVE /AK$ !IR CLAIMS ON A R$EMPTIVE UND]/&+ ( ID5TITY40 ,?IS /ATEM5T /ILL SEEMS TO L>GELY REFLECT ! CONTEMPOR>Y SITUATION )9 ACTIVISM & !ORY FOCUS$ ON TRANS LIB]ATION & ,L,G,B,T ISSUES ON ! :OLE4 ,QUITE SIMPLY1 ! POLITICS SURR\ND+ ISSUES ( G5D] & SEXUALITY >E /ILL A POLITICS C5T]$ >\ND A NOTION ( RECOGNITION4 ,! C5TRAL CONC]N IS :E!R OR NOT ,L,G,B,T 9DIVIDUALS >E RECOGNIZ$ BY LIB]AL SOCIETY WRIT L>GE AS SUBJECTS4 ,?IS IS OBVI\SLY A CONC]N :I* CANNOT BE SIMPLY GLOSS$ OV]4 ,! QUE/ION ( :O IS GRANT$ SUBJECT /ATUS IS ( UTMO/ POLITICAL CONC]N4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 POLITICS CANNOT BE R$UC$ TO ?IS QUE/ION4 

,A SIGNIFICANT AM\NT ( WRIT+ AB\T ,L,G,B,T & QUE] ID5TITY IS /ILL PRIM>ILY FOCUS$ ) EXP&+ RECOGNITION ?R\< >TICULAT+ AN 5DLESS SET ( NEW ID5TITIES4 ,H[ MANY ?9K PIECES HAVE BE5 P5N$ :I* CRITIQUE ! T]M9OLOGY ( LESBIAN1 GAY1 & BISEXUAL AS BE+ 9ADEQUATE = ! RECOGNITION ( ! VA/ MULTIPLICITIES ( G5D]S :I* WE >E N[ SUPPOS$ TO RECOGNIZE AS ONTOLOGICALLY DI/9CT REALITIES8 ,EV5 9 MA9/REAM ,L,G,B,T & QUE] M$IA WE SEE A PROLIF]ATION ( !ORIES LIKE ! SPLIT ATTRACTION MODEL2 EA* AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE A PRECISE DEF9ITION ( EA* 9DIVIDUAL'S [N SEXUALITY & G5D]4 ,EA* MEANT TO PROVIDE1 9 A S5SE1 A RECOGNITION ( ! SPECIFICITY ( ONE'S EXP]I5CE4 ,?IS APPROA* DOES NOT1 H[EV]1 /OP M]ELY AT ! RECOGNITION ( EXP]I5CE4 ,RA!R IT %APES ?AT EXP]I5CE 9TO A COMPREH5SIVE ID5TITY :I* IS UND]/OOD AS BE+ ONTOLOGICALLY DI/9CT FROM ! C\NTLESS O!R 9F9ITELY PRECISE SEXUALITIES & G5D]S4 

,AGA91 ?IS PH5OM5A SEEMS TO L>GELY BE DRIV5 BY A DESIRE = RECOGNITION4 ,9 FACT1 ! GOAL SEEMS TO BE ! CREATION ( RECOGNITION ?AT IS 5TIRELY NON-R$UCTIONI/2 A RECOGNITION :I* CAPTURES ! SPECIFICITY ( MY [N EXP]I5CE & S5SE ( SELF TO ! FULLE/ EXT5T POSSIBLE4 ,?US ! PROLIF]ATION ( ID5TITY :I* ,G5D] ,NIHILISM FIR/ RAIL$ AGA9/ CAN P]HAPS BE UND]/OOD AS A DEM& = RECOGNITION TAK5 TO AN ABSURD EXT5T4 

,IT IS IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE ?AT QUE/IONS ( RECOGNITION >E NOT TRIVIAL4 ,AFT] ALL1 WE NE$ M]ELY MAKE A QUICK RETURN TO ,HEGEL TO REALIZE ! EXT5T TO :I* RECOGNITION IS C5TRAL TO \R [N SUBJECTIVITY4 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM1 ,I ?9K1 FAIL$ TO TAKE 9TO ACC\NT ?AT ?IS R$EMPTIVE NOTION ( ID5TITY HAS DEVELOP$ 9 RESPONSE TO A REAL NE$ = RECOGNITION4 ,YET ,G5D] ,NIHILISM WAS CORRECT TO NOTE ?AT ?IS DEM& = RECOGNITION VIA ! RECOGNITION ( EA* 9DIVIDUAL'S P]SONAL ID5TITY AS ONTOLOGICALLY DI/9CT IS A DEM& = RECOGNITION ?AT SUBTLY NATURALIZES ! RELATION%IPS ( P[] & CLASS :I* CREATE ?AT ID5TITY 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 

,! DEM& 0RECOGNIZE MY ID5TITY AS BE+ AS VALID AS O!R ID5TITIES0 PRESUMES ID5TITY EXI/S AS SOME UNASSAILABLE & NATURAL PH5OM5A4 ,= EXAMPLE1 9 ! DEM& ?AT NON-B9>Y ID5TITY BE SE5 AS EQUALLY VALID TO MAN OR WOMAN AS ID5TITIES1 !RE IS PRESUMPTION ?AT WE \<T NOT TO BE CRITICAL ( ! NOTIONS ( MAN & WOMAN 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,! IMPULSE TO SIMPLY CREATE MORE & MORE ID5TITY CATEGORIES CAN ONLY BE UND]/OOD AS A LIB]AT+ POLITICAL PROJECT IF WE UND]/& ! PROJECT ( PLAC+ PEOPLE 9TO ID5TITY CATEGORIES ON ! BASIS ( G5D] & SEXUALITY TO BE A POLITICALLY LIB]ATORY ACT 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 

,G5D] ,NIHILISM WAS ORIG9ALLY AN ATTEMPT TO >GUE ?AT ?IS NATURALIZATION ( ID5TITY WAS 9 FACT AN ATTEMPT TO EXP& MODES ( CONTROL1 !ORIES ( DEVIANCE1 & ME*ANISMS = PUNI%M5T4 ,?IS IS :AT IS MEANT BY ! /ATEM5T1 0,ALL WE DO :5 WE EXP& G5D] CATEGORIES IS TO CREATE NEW MORE NUANC$ *ANNELS ?R\< :I* P[] CAN OP]ATE4 ,WE DO NOT LIB]ATE \RSELVES1 WE 5SN>E \RSELVES 9 C\NTLESS & EV5 MORE NUANC$ & P[]FUL NORMS4 ,EA* ONE A NEW *A940 ,QUITE SIMPLY1 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM WAS ! 9SI/5CE ?AT IF ! CO/ ( RECOGNITION WAS ! EXPANSION ( G5D] AS A FUNDAM5TALLY VIOL5T APP>ATUS ( CATEGORIZATION1 !N RECOGNITION WAS NOT WOR? IT4 

,?IS IS :]E ! NIHILISM 9 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM CAME 94 ,AT ! TIME ?AT ,I WROTE ! >TICLE1 IT SEEM$ S5SIBLE TO ME ?AT WE MI<T ESCAPE ! 5TIRE GAME ( CATEGORIZATION ?R\< A REJECTION ( ID5TITY ON ! :OLE4 ,! 5TIRE ?IRD SECTION ( MY ORIG9AL >TICLE \TL9ES A NOTION ( SELF-ABOLITION ?R\< EMBRAC+ UN9TELLIGIBILITY & REFUS+ ! PUT =? A POSITIVE POLITICS ( ID5TITY4 ,9 ESS5CE1 A NIHILI/IC EMBRACE ( MEAN+LESS RESI/ANCE WAS ! ONLY POSSIBLE WAY =W>D4 

,?IS WAS1 QUITE FRANKLY1 A NAIVE UND]/&+ ( :AT RESI/ANCE & ID5TITY MI<T LOOK LIKE4 ,I DO NOT DISAGREE ) MY ORIG9AL CLAIM 9 ! SECOND SECTION ( ! >TICLE ?AT G5D] ABOLITION PRES5TS ! BE/ POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO ! PROBLEM BO? ( G5D]$ VIOL5CE ON ! :OLE1 BUT ALSO TO ! PROBLEM ( RECOGNITION4 ,:]E ,I N[ DIV]GE FROM MY PREVI\S ?\<T IS 9 T]MS ( :AT ! PROJECT BR++ AB\T SU* ABOLITION MI<T LOOK LIKE4 

,AN EMBRACE ( UN9TELLIGIBILITY1 ( NIHILISM1 ( A REJECTION ( MEAN+ & /ABILITY MI<T HAVE PRES5T$ A USEFUL ME?OD ( RESI/ANCE1 IF G5D] OP]AT$ M]ELY AT ! LEVEL ( IDEALS & IDEOLOGY4 ,IF G5D] WAS NO?+ MORE ?AN ! BELIEF 9 /ABLE ONTOLOGICAL ID5TITIES1 !N P]HAPS A REJECTION ( ?AT BELIEF MI<T BE 5\<4 ,BUT G5D] IS MORE ?AN A BELIEF4 ,G5D] REPRES5TS A MAT]IAL REALITY :I* DIVIDES ! WORLD NOT JU/ AT ! LEVEL ( ! IDEAL BUT AT ! LEVEL ( LABOR1 ECONOMICS1 & LIFE ITSELF4 ,G5D] DIVIDES ! WORLD 9TO ?OSE :O DO SPECIFIC TYPES ( LABOR & ?OSE :O DON'T1 9TO ?OSE >E F9ANCIALLY 9DEP5D5T SUBJECTS & ?OSE :O >E F9ANCIALLY DEP5D5T4 ,?IS DIVISION DOES NOT OCCUR M]ELY AT ! LEVEL ( IDEALS BUT 9 ! DAY TO DAY MAT]IAL MATT] LIVES ( 9DIVIDUALS4 

,IF G5D] OP]ATES NOT M]ELY AT ! IDEOLOGICAL OR SYMBOLIC LEVEL1 !N A RESPONSE :I* DOES OP]ATE ONLY AT ?AT LEVEL IS 9ADEQUATE4 ,AS SU*1 ,I AM QUITE CONV9C$ ?AT ! MODEL ( RESI/ANCE PROPOS$ 9 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM NE$S TO BE REJECT$1 & A NEW MODEL DEVELOP$ ON ! BASIS ( A MAT]IAL 9VE/IGATION 9TO ! MAT]IAL BASE :I* PRODUCES ! IDEOLOGIES ( G5D] & DIFF]5CE :I* ,G5D] ,NIHILISM WAS SO OBSESS$ ) REBUTT+4 ,! RE/ ( ?IS ESSAY WILL ATTEMPT TO DO ?AT WORK4 

,A ,MAT]IALI/ ,!ORY ( ,G5D]3 

,G5D] ,NIHILISM DID V]Y LITTLE TO GIVE A SOLID DEF9ITION ( G5D]4 ,:ILE IT C]TA9LY OPPOS$ SOME?+ REF]R$ TO AS G5D]1 IT DID NOT GO AB\T ADEQUATELY EXPLA9+ EXACTLY :AT ?AT ?+ WAS4 ,9 ! BRIEF MOM5T ?AT ! >TICLE DOES DEVOTE TO ?IS TASK1 IT SETTLES = CIT+ ,JUDI? ,BUTL]1 :O WRITES ?AT G5D] IS1 0! APP>ATUS BY :I* ! PRODUCTION & NORMALIZATION ( MASCUL9E & FEM99E TAKE PLACE ALONG ) ! 9T]/ITIAL =MS ( HORMONAL1 *ROMOSOMAL1 PSY*IC1 & P]=MATIVE ?AT G5D] ASSUMES40 ,:ILE ?AT IS C]TA9LY A J>GON LAD5 DEF9ITION1 IT IS NOT A DEF9ITION :I* PROVIDES A COMPREH5SIVE NOTION ( G5D]4 

,FROM ?IS DEF9ITION WE >E LEFT ASK+ SEV]AL QUE/IONS4 ,:AT IS AN APP>ATUS8 ,9 :AT REALM DOES IT OP]ATE2 IDEAL1 SYMBOLIC1 MAT]IAL1 ETC8 ,:AT DOES ?AT PRODUCTION & NORMALIZATION LOOK LIKE8 ,?R\< :I* 9/ITUTIONS IS IT 5ACT$8 ,:ILE ,BUTL] C]TA9LY HAS TACKL$ !SE QUE/IONS 9 H] [N WORK1 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM NEV] SET \T TO DO SO1 & NEV] EV5 BO!R$ TO SUMM>IZE ,BUTL]'S [N ANSW]S4 ,AS SU*1 WE >E LEFT TRY+ TO D$UCE EXACTLY :AT G5D] IS = ,G5D] ,NIHILISM4 ,IT SEEMS ?AT ! ANSW] TO ?IS QUE/ION IS ?AT = ,G5D] ,NIHILISM1 G5D] IS ! SYMBOLIC DIVISION ( 9DIVIDUALS 9TO V>I\S CATEGORIES1 AS WELL AS ! ME*ANISMS ( 5=CEM5T ?AT 5SURE COMPLIANCE ) !SE CATEGORIES4 ,G5D] W\LD !N BE UND]/OOD AS ! DISC\RSES :I* DICTATE ASSIGNM5T TO MALE OR FEMALE1 OR 9 ! NEW WORLD ( ID5TITY PROLIF]ATION1 TO ANY O!R NEWLY RECOGNIZ$ CATEGORIES4 ,AS SU*1 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM PRIM>ILY UND]/&S G5D] ITSELF TO BE A PROCESS ( TAXONOMY & CATEGORIZATION4 

,?IS UND]/&+ ( G5D] DOES SEEM TO RECOGNIZE REAL PROCESSES :I* DO 9 FACT TAKE PLACE1 BUT IT DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO EXPLA9 :Y !SE PROCESSES OP]ATE ! WAY !Y DO1 :AT CLASS 9T]E/S ?IS OP]ATION S]VES1 OR :AT ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 !SE PROCESSES & MAT]IAL CONC]NS AB\T ! REPRODUCTION ( SOCIETY MI<T BE4 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM TAKES = GRANT$ ?AT !SE PROCESSES >E VIOL5T 5ACTM5TS ( P[]1 BUT DUE TO ITS GR\ND+ 9 A FAULTY & MISAPPLI$ ,F\CAULDIAN NOTION ( DISPLAC$ & DISP]S$ P[]1 NEV] ASKS :OSE P[] IS BE+ 5ACT$ & :OSE 9T]E/ ?IS ALL S]VES4 

,ALL ( ?IS IS A L5G?Y WAY TO SAY ?AT ! !ORY ( G5D] 9 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM WAS NOT AN ADEQUATELY MAT]IALI/ !ORY ( G5D]4 ,IT CORRECTLY NOT$ ?AT !RE IS A C]TA9 IDEOLOGICAL PROCESS ( CATEGORIZATION & NATURALIZATION ( DIFF]5CE :I* IS OCCURR+1 BUT IT DID NOT GO BEYOND ?IS4 ,WE MU/ N[ GO BEYOND ?AT 9ITIAL CRITIQUE4 ,?ANKFULLY1 MU* ( ! WORK ( PROVID+ A MAT]IALI/ !ORY ( G5D] HAS ALREADY BE5 DONE4 ,! FR5* RADICAL FEM9I/ !ORI/ ,MONIQUE ,WITTIG'S [N WRIT+ ON G5D]1 SEXUALITY1 & MAT]IALISM HAS LAID A P[]FUL F\NDATION = ! PROJECT WE WE MU/ UND]TAKE4 

,WITTIG'S PROJECT HAS A SIMIL> />T+ PO9T TO G5D] NIHILISM2 IT SEEKS TO >GUE AGA9/ A SORT ( NATURALIZATION ( ID5TITY :I* HAS BECOME POPUL> 9 FEM9I/ POLITICS4 ,WITTIG BEG9S H] ESSAY 0,ONE ,IS ,NOT ,BORN A ,WOMAN0 BY EXPLA9+ ?AT 0A MAT]IALI/ FEM9I/ APPROA* TO WOM5'S OPPRESSION DE/ROYS ! IDEA ?AT WOM5 >E A 'NATURAL GR\P4'0 ,= ,WITTIG1 WOM5 >E NOT OPPRESS$ BECAUSE !Y >E WOM52 ?AT IS TO SAY WE DO NOT LIVE 9 A WORLD :]E9 !RE >E FIR/ WOM5 & !N AFT]W>DS !RE IS AN OPPRESSION ( WOM54 ,RA!R1 ,WITTIG 9SI/S ?AT 0:AT WE TAKE = ! CAUSE OR ORIG9 ( OPPRESSION IS 9 FACT ONLY ! M>K IMPOS$ BY ! OPPRESSOR3 ! MY? ( WOMAN PLUS ITS MAT]IAL EFFECTS & MANIFE/ATIONS 9 ! APPROPRIAT$ CONSCI\SNESS & BODIES ( WOM54 ,?US1 ?IS M>K DOES NOT PR$ATE OPPRESSION40 ,WOM51 DO NOT CON/ITUTE A PREEXI/+ & NATURALLY DEL9EAT$ GR\P ( PEOPLE1 BUT >E 0AN IMAG9>Y =MATION :I* RE9T]PRETS PHYSICAL FEATURES79 !MSELVES AS NEUTRAL AS ANY O!R BUT M>K$ BY ! SOCIAL SY/EM7 ?R\< ! NETWORK ( RELATION%IPS 9 :I* !Y >E P]CEIV$40 ,?US1 = ,WITTIG1 ! ASS]TION ( 0WOMAN0 AS AN ID5TITY CANNOT 9 FACT BE A P>TICUL>LY USEFUL />T+ PO9T BECAUSE IT RISKS NATURALIZ+ ! =CES :I* PRODUCE IT4 ,I HOPE ! RESONANCE BETWE5 ?IS !ORY & ! !ORY PUT =? 9 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM IS OBVI\S4 

,WITTIG IS1 ?ANKFULLY1 NOT SATISFI$ ) M]ELY NOT+ ?AT WOMAN IS NOT A NATURAL ID5TITY2 %E GOES FUR!R TO 9VE/IGATE EXACTLY :Y ?IS PH5OM5A ( G5D]$ CATEGORIZATION TAKES PLACE4 ,9 ORD] TO DO ?IS1 ,WITTIG SEEKS TO 0DEF9E :AT WE CALL OPPRESSION 9 MAT]IALI/ T]MS0 BY 0MAK+ IT EVID5T ?AT WOM5 >E A CLASS1 :I* IS TO SAY ?AT ! CATEGORY 'WOMAN' AS WELL AS ! CATEGORY 'MAN' >E POLITICAL & ECONOMIC CATEGORIES NOT ET]NAL ONES4 ,\R FI<T AIMS TO SUPPRESS M5 AS A CLASS1 NOT ?R\< A G5OCIDAL1 BUT A POLITICAL /RUGGLE4 ,ONCE ! CLASS 'M5' DISAPPE>S1 'WOM5' AS A CLASS WILL DISAPPE> AS WELL1 = !RE >E NO SLAVES )\T MA/]S40 ,IT IS ?IS %IFT TO UND]/&+ ! PH5OM5A ( G5D] AS AN ISSUE ( CLASS & CLASS /RUGGLE ?AT PROVIDES A MAT]IALI/ F\NDATION = A MORE COMPREH5SIVE !ORY ( G5D]4 

,9 ORD] TO TRULY UND]/& H[ G5D] OP]ATES MAT]IALLY WE MU/ TURN TO ANO!R ( ,WITTIG'S ESSAYS3 ,! ,CATEGORY ( ,SEX4 ,H]E1 ,WITTIG TRULY SETS AB\T TO ! TASK ( GIV+ A MAT]IALI/ ACC\NT ( G5D] 9 PR(\NDLY DIALECTICAL T]MS4 ,%E WRITES1 0! P]5NIALITY ( ! SEXES & ! P]5NIALITY ( SLAVES & MA/]S PROCE$ FROM ! SAME BELIEF1 &1 AS !RE >E NO SLAVES )\T MA/]S1 !RE >E NO WOM5 )\T M540 ,?US M5 & WOM5 >E UND]/OOD ?R\< A DIALECTICAL NOTION ( CLASS4 ,! MAT]IAL BASE FROM :I* G5D] AS A PROCESS ( CATEGORIZATION EM]GES IS ?US ! MAT]IAL CONTRADICTION EXPRESS$ 9 ?IS RELATION%IP4 ,%E CONT9UES3 

! IDEOLOGY ( SEXUAL DIFF]5CE FUNCTIONS AS C5SOR%IP 9 \R CULTURE BY MASK+1 ON ! GR\ND ( NATURE1 ! SOCIAL OPPOSITION BETWE5 M5 & WOM54 ,MASCUL9E_/FEM99E1 MALE_/FEMALE >E ! CATEGORIES :I* S]VE TO CONCEAL ! FACT ?AT SOCIAL DIFF]5CES ALWAYS BELONG TO AN ECONOMIC1 POLITICAL1 IDEOLOGICAL ORD]4 ,EV]Y SY/EM ( DOM9ATION E/ABLI%ES DIVISIONS AT ! MAT]IAL & ECONOMIC LEVEL4 ,FUR!RMORE1 ! DIVISIONS >E AB/RACT$ & TURN$ 9TO CONCEPTS BY ! MA/]S444 = !RE IS NO SEX4 ,!RE IS BUT SEX ?AT IS OPPRESS$ & SEX ?AT OPPRESSES4 ,IT IS ! OPPRESSION ?AT CREATES SEX & NOT ! CONTR>Y 

,9 ?IS =MULATION1 ! PROCESS ( CATEGORIZATION :I* ,G5D] ,NIHILISM SIMPLY REF]R$ TO AS 0G5D]0 IS 9 FACT AN IDEOLOGY ( SEXUAL DIFF]5CE :I* EXI/S 9 ORD] TO OBSCURE & NATURALIZE ! ECONOMIC & SOCIAL EXPLOITATION ( WOM54 ,! PROCESSES ( CATEGORIZATION >E ?US MAT]IALLY GR\ND$ 9 CLASS /RUGGLE1 & EM]GE TO S]VE ! MAT]IAL 9T]E/S ( M5 AS A CLASS4 ,?IS IS ! PR(\ND MAT]IALI/ 9SI<T :I* ,G5D] ,NIHILISM C\LD NEV] GET TO ON ITS [N4 ,AS SU*1 ,WITTIG PROVIDES ! FRAMEWORK NECESS>Y = ! CRITICISM :I* ,G5D] ,NIHILISM PUTS =? TO HAVE TEE?2 H] WORK CAN DIRECT ?AT CRITICISM T[>DS NOT JU/ ! IDEOLOGY ( DIFF]5CE :I* IS OP]ATIVE 9 ! PROCESS ( CATEGORIZATION1 BUT TO ! RELATION%IP & CLASS /RUGGLE :I* PRODUCES ?IS IDEOLOGY4 ,!SE 9SI<TS DEMON/RATE ! WAY ?AT ! VALORIZATION ( DIFF]5CE1 & POT5TIALLY EV5 ! DEM& = RECOGNITION ( DIFF]5CE AS F\NDATIONAL TO ONE'S SUBJECTIVITY1 CAN OP]ATE AS IDEOLOGICAL JU/IFICATIONS = MAT]IAL EXPLOITATION4 ,SUDD5LY ! IMPULSE T[>DS CATEGORIZATION & TAXONOMY IS NO LONG] SOME FREE FLOAT+ & AMORPH\S 0DISC\RSE0 BUT TAKES ON A FUNCTION )9 A MAT]IAL CONTRADICTION4 

,MOV+ ,PA/ ,NIHILISM3 

,G5D] ,NIHILISM1 AS A =M ( POLITICAL NIHILISM1 WAS PR(\NDLY PESSIMI/IC4 ,9 ,ABOLITIONISM 9 ! #b#a/ ,C5TURY3 ,FROM ,COMMUNIZATION AS ! ,5D ( ,SEX1 TO ,REVOLUTION>Y ,TRANSFEM9ISM1 ,JULES ,JOANNE ,GLEESON NOTES ?AT ?IS PESSIMISM CAN BE F\ND 9 O!R WORKS ( TRANSFEM9I/ !ORY4 ,IT IS UNSURPRIS+ ?AT ?OSE /RUGGL+ SO 9T5SELY TO FI<T = !IR LIB]ATION MI<T S9K 9TO PESSIMISM4 ,YET ,I WANT TO E*O ,GLEESON'S CRITIQUE4 ,GLEESON NOTES ?AT1 0BETWE5 !SE WRIT]S1 WE >E /ILL LEFT ) ONLY ! SKELETON ( A /RATEGY4 ,ABOLITIONI/ POLITICS >E BECOM+ MORE TIMELY ?AN EV]1 H[EV]1 & SO ?IS /ANCE IS DUE URG5T DEVELOPM5T40 ,?IS IS C]TA9LY ! CASE1 & ,G5D] ,NIHILISM (F]$ LITTLE HOPE 9 PROVID+ ADEQUATE DEVELOPM5T ( ?IS /RATEGY4 ,%E ALSO SUGGE/S ?AT SU* /RATEGICAL WORK HAS BE5 DEVELOP$ 9 O!R RADICAL LIT]ATURE1 P>TICUL>LY 9 ! WRIT+S ( PRISON ABOLITIONI/S4 ,G5D] ,NIHILISM C\LD NOT1 ( C\RSE1 DRAW ON ! POLITICS ( PRISON ABOLITION AS A RESULT ( ITS REJECTION ( POLITICS ON ! :OLE4 ,IT ?US SEEMS ?AT ,G5D] ,NIHILISM'S [N IDEALI/ GR\ND+ PRECLUDES ! POSSIBILITY = IT TO PRODUCE A /RATEGY AT ALL4 

,I HOPE1 ?AT ! PICTURE ,I HAVE PA9T$ ( ,G5D] ,NIHILISM AT ?IS PO9T IS COMPLEX4 ,I 9SI/ ?AT ! IDEAS PUT =W>D 9 ,! ,ANTI-,MANIFE/O W]E NOT 5TIRELY (F BASE1 BUT LACK$ A !ORETICAL GR\ND+1 & ,I HAVE ATTEMPT$ 9 ?IS ESSAY TO PROVIDE A MAT]IALI/ ACC\NT :I* MI<T CORRECT ! MI/AKES ( ,G5D] ,NIHILISM4 ,AS SU* WE >E LEFT ) ! NE$ = ! ABOLITION ( G5D]1 ! NE$ TO PU% BACK AGA9/ RE=MI/ PROJECTS ?AT SIMPLY SEEK TO MAKE AN EXP&$ NOTION ( G5D]4 ,:AT REMA9S TO BE CREAT$ IS ! E/ABLI%M5T ( A PA? =W>D4 

,I WANT TO SUGGE/ ?AT ,GLEESON IS CORRECT TO NOTE ?AT COMMUNI/ OPPOSITION TO ! FAMILY PROVIDES A CRUCIAL PA? =W>D4 ,%E >GUES1 

,! FAMILY S]VES AS A UNIQUE BA/ION ORGANIZ+ HET]ONORMATIVITY1 & ?R\< 5SUR+ ! 9T]-G5]ATIONAL PROCESSION ( WEAL? & ACCESS TO FIX$ CAPITAL1 ALSO ANTI-BLACKNESS4 ,UPBR++S & 9TIMACIES EXI/+ \TSIDE ( NORMS :I* HAVE DEVELOP$ ALONG ) CAPITALISM >E WIDELY DISP>AG$1 & CULTURALLY SUBORD9AT$4 ,= AS LONG AS HET]OSEXUAL P>5TS >E RELI$ ON = GIV+ QUE] KIDS UPBR++1 WIDESPREAD DISPOSSESSION WILL BE ! RULE4 

,AS SU*1 OPPOSITION TO ! FAMILY PROVIDES ONE CONCRETE PA? =W>D4 ,:AT ,I F9D SO P[]FUL AB\T ,GLEESON'S ACC\NT IS ?AT ?IS OPPOSITION IS TI$ DIRECTLY 9TO ! /RUGGLE = COMMUNISM4 ,%E AGA9 WRITES1 0,?IS MOVE WILL BE A MOVE T[>DS COMMUNISM3 UPBR++S 9 PRIVATE H\SEHOLDS REPLAC$ BY COMMUNAL LABOR1 UNDO+ ! MANY G5]ATIONS ( DEGRADATION & CO]CIVE DIFF]5TIATION40 ,9 A PR(\NDLY 9SI<TFUL MOVE1 ,GLEESON CONNECTS ! NECESSITY ( ABOLITION TO ! NECESSITY ( COMMUNI/ /RUGGLE4 

,I AM CONV9C$ ?AT ,GLEESON IS CORRECT AB\T ?IS4 ,! /RUGGLE = ! ABOLITION ( G5D] CANNOT BE SEP>AT$ FROM ! /RUGGLE = COMMUNISM4 ,A PROP]LY MAT]IALI/ ASSESSM5T ( ! CONDITIONS :I* PRODUCE G5D] REVEALS ! EXT5T TO :I* G5D] IS NOT M]ELY A L+UI/IC OR DISCURSIVE PH5OM5A4 ,G5D] IS A MAT]IAL RELATION%IP ?AT CAN ONLY BE COMBAT$ MAT]IALLY4 ,! COMMUNI/ MOVEM5T'S FOCUS ON ! ABOLITION ( ! FAMILY IS PRECISELY :AT MI<T BE NE$$ TO UNDO ! =MS ( ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION ( WOM5 :I* ,WITTIG \TL9ES4 ,WITTIG'S HET]OSEXUAL SOCIETY IS ALSO A CAPITALI/ SOCIETY4 ,ONLY REAL1 CONCRETE1 & ORGANIZ$ /RUGGLE CAN MOVE US =W>D4 ,M]E NEGATION1 S5SELESS VIOL5CE1 OR EMBRACE ( UN9TELLIGIBILITY CANNOT BE 5\<4 ,9 %ORT WE MU/ MOVE BEYOND NEGATIVITY4 ,! PROJECT AT H& IS TO ADEQUATELY ACC\NT = ! VIOL5CE ( G5D]1 ! NECESSITY ( ITS ABOLITION1 & ! /RATEGIES = A*IEV+ ?AT ABOLITION 9 MAT]IAL T]MS4 ,ONLY !N WILL WE HAVE ! ABILITY TO NOT ONLY A*IEVE ABOLITION1 BUT TO *ANGE ! WORLD4 

,SO1 :AT COMES AFT] ,G5D] ,NIHILISM8 ,IT IS C]TA9LY NOT A POLITICS ( RADICAL NEGATION1 IT IS NOT A REFUSAL TO 5GAGE 9 POSITIVE POLITICAL /RUGGLE1 IT IS NOT A REFUSAL TO DEF9E \R DEM&S4 ,RA!R1 :AT COMES AFT] ,G5D] ,NIHILISM MU/ BE A MAT]IALI/ /RUGGLE AGA9/ PATRI>*Y1 :ITE SUPREMACY1 & CAPITALISM :I* UND]/&S & IS ATT5TIVE TO ! COMPLEX 9T]RELATIONS BETWE5 !SE /RUCTURES & :I* REFUSES TO R$UCE ANY ONE ( !M TO ANY O!R4 ,?IS REQUIRES D>+ IMAG9ATIONS ( NEW FUTURES1 DISCUSSION & COMMUNICATION & !ORETICAL DEVELOPM5T :I* DEM&S NOT JU/ ABOLITION BUT A WAY TO ACTUALLY A*IEVE IT1 & A CLE> SET ( MAT]IALI/ !ORETICAL PR9CIPLES & PRAXIS TO UNITE >\ND4 ,! ABOLITION ( G5D] WILL ONLY BE A*IEV$ AS A RESULT ( ! ABOLITION ( ! MAT]IAL CONDITIONS :I* RE9=CE IT ) !IR IDEOLOGIES ( SEXUAL DIFF]5CE4 ,?IS MEANS DE/ROY+ ! CAPITALI/ SY/EM :I* PRODUCES ! NUCLE> FAMILY AS A FUNDAM5TAL SOCIAL /RUCTURE4 ,?IS MEANS OV]COM+ COLONIALISM & :ITE SUPREMACY :I* RELY ( G5D]$ DISC\RSES TO JU/IFY !IR VIOL5CE & E/ABLI% IDEOLOGIES ( HYP]SEXUALITY & DEVIANCE4 ,?IS MEANS RECOGNIZ+ ?AT !SE ?+S CAN ONLY BE OV]COME BY A COMMUNI/ POLITICS ORI5T$ T[>DS ! FUTURE4 ,AB&ON NIHILISM1 AB&ON HOPELESSNESS1 DEM& & BUILD A BETT] WORLD4 

,WORKS ,CIT$ 

,ALYSON ,ESCALANTE4 0,G5D] ,NIHILISM3 ,AN ,ANTI-,MANIFE/O40 ,LIBCOM1 #bb ,JUN4 #b#a#f1 LIBCOM4ORG_/LIBR>Y_/G5D]-NIHILISM-ANTI-MANIFE/O4 

,GLEESON1 ,JULES ,JOANNE4 0,ABOLITIONISM 9 ! #b#a/ ,C5TURY3 ,FROM ,COMMUNIZATION AS ! ,5D ( ,SEX1 TO ,REVOLUTION>Y ,TRANSFEM9ISM40 ,BL9D ,FIELD3 ,A ,J\RNAL ( ,CULTURAL ,9QUIRY1 #g ,AUG4 #b#a#g1 BL9DFIELDJ\RNAL4COM_/#b#a#g_/#h_/#g_/ABOLITIONISM-9-!-#b#a/-C5TURY-FROM-COMMUNIZATION-AS-!-5D-(-SEX-TO-REVOLUTION>Y-TRANSFEM9ISM_/4 

,WITTIG1 ,MONIQUE4 ,! ,/RAI<T ,M9D & ,O!R ,ESSAYS4 ,H>VE/] ,:EAT%EAF1 #a#i#i#b4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#f1 #bba 3 ,BEYOND ,NEGATIVITY3 ,:AT ,COMES ,AFT] ,G5D] ,NIHILISM8 -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,BEYOND ,NEGATIVITY3 ,:AT ,COMES ,AFT] ,G5D] ,NIHILISM8 -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/