In 2004 I re-published and distributed a copy of Valarie Solanas’ controversial essay ‘The SCUM Manifesto’. This text is routinely and ignorantly cited by anti-feminist men as “evidence” that all feminists are hell bent on the destruction of men.

Apart from the fact that SCUM does not represent mainstream feminist thinking, it was not written as a literal piece of work. Contrary to popular mythology, Solanas never formed or lead any organization called The Society for Cutting Up Men; it simply did not exist.

The following piece is the introduction I wrote to the re-published edition. In it I explain the context in which SCUM was written in an attempt to quell the hysteria and misunderstanding of the text.

Introduction to the SCUM Manifesto, Cunt-Struck Press, 2004

I previously published a few paragraphs of the SCUM Manifesto in a zine I put out many years ago. This offended some people because the Manifesto itself is viewed as blatantly sexist and anti-male. I appreciate why some people responded in this way, but from my point of view, just because a text is offensive, I do not in any way consider that to be a valid reason why it should not be read. You do not have to like or agree something in order for it to have value and be worthy of publication. Furthermore, to be offended by this text is to take it at face value not to appreciate the context within which it was written.

The reason I have decided to print and distribute Valerie Solanas’ SCUM Manifesto is not because I am a raving man-hater. In fact I have long been a vocal advocate for the involvement of men in the women’s movement. I’m distributing SCUM because I believe, in addition it’s historical value, it is a fascinating piece of work. And while not being a philosophy I advocate you adopt, the text is not totally devoid of merit as some might suggest. It’s confronting, intriguing, confusing, impressive, unsettling, and often amusing.

It goes without saying that Solanas’ depictions of men in the SCUM Manifesto do not accurately describe men as a whole, or even as a significant proportion of men (you decide). The way I like to look at it – SCUM describes a certain type of male. A type of male that while reading the Manifesto you will recognize as men you know and have come into contact with. Perhaps a more accurate way to look at the Manifesto is as a description of a particular male mentality – which some men buy into, to varying degrees, and others do not.

It also is important to note the mentality from which SCUM was written. In an interview where Solanas discussed the Manifesto she said of the Society for Cutting Up Men: “It’s hypothetical. No, hypothetical is the wrong word. It’s just a literary device. There’s no organization called SCUM.” To which the interviewer suggested: “It’s just you.” Solanas replied: “It’s not even me… I mean, I thought of it as a state of mind. In other words, women who think a certain way are in SCUM. Men who think a certain way are in the men’s auxiliary of SCUM.”

This explanation illustrates that SCUM was written from a particular point of view, a state of mind; not necessarily a state of mind Solanas inhabited. SCUM, as Solanas explained, “is just a literary device”. Many people tend to respond Solanas and the manifesto without taking this into account. I think this is a mistake.

There is a tendency for people dismiss the SCUM Manifesto based on a preconceived notion that Solanas was just an insane woman who shot Andy Warhol and hated men. Solanas was a psychology graduate, who her mother described as having a “terrific sense of humor”. She also worked periodically as a prostitute. Her background in psychology and experiences as a prostitute, I believe, makes her well placed to offer some credible insights into the male psyche. The SCUM Manifesto is not simply a wild diatribe against men. Many of her comments, as you’ll discover, do have a relevancy and familiarity to the men and women in our lives, and are therefore not without merit.

The SCUM Manifesto is also a call to action, which constitutes the most controversial element of the work. The actions called for are not something I suggest you take literally! However in reading them you may feel inspired to consider ways in which you might take action in line with your own beliefs to further the status of women and counter the scourge of capitalism.

To the men who read this I urge you to look upon this work as an attack, not on you personally, but on a certain type of man. Whether you resemble this kind of man or not, is for you to reflect on. To the women who read this, I forewarn you that you do not go unscathed in this text. There is much here for you to reflect on as well.

I publish SCUM unaware of any copyright and ownership issues associated with it. The text is readily available on the internet so I figure there’s no harm in photocopying and distributing it on a non-profit basis. I’ve also included a biography on Solanas that I found on the internet, which I think is important for people to read in order to understand more about the life of the author and its relevance to her work.