How the lesbian squats of London Fields influenced queer DIY culture

We’ve all heard the stereotype that lesbians love DIY, but did you know the history behind this idea? 

Social media has made DIY more accessible than ever. A recent Tiktok trend saw queer creators boasting their “homosexual audacity” and the belief that they possess “Any and all required skills to complete whatever project (I’ve) set my mind to, despite having no previous experience.” After all, “Who needs skills when you have gay?” 

But “homosexual audacity” isn’t a new phenomenon. A 2014 YouGov survey revealed that 77% of lesbians and 72% of gay men were confident in their abilities with IKEA furniture, compared to 48% of heterosexual women and 58% of heterosexual men. 

Although the concept of ‘homosexual audacity’ is largely intended to be tongue-in-cheek, when we look back at the history of lesbian DIY culture, this TikTok trend may really be onto something. 

First, some context:

London, 1979. Ten years after the Stonewall riots and seven years after the first UK Pride march. Between 1941 and 1992, London’s population shrank by over a fifth. To put this in perspective, East London borough Tower Hamlets shrank from over 600,000 in 1901 to 139,996 in 1981, less than a quarter of what it had been previously. Historians credit the decline to a lack of employment opportunities, poor housing and air pollution.

The mass exodus from the city left properties empty and unattended, leading to many people entering and living in these residences illegally. It is estimated that 20 – 30,000 Londoners chose to live this way during the mid-70s. Groups of women began living together in the abandoned properties, congregating in areas such as London Fields and Broadway Market, Hackney, Caledonian Road (Kings Cross), Ladbroke Grove and Vauxhall. In London Fields alone it is estimated that there were around 50 women-only households. 

Communal living in the squats offered women benefits and freedoms that they may not have had in other areas of society. It was a practical solution – the free housing gave women, many of whom were on benefits or low wages, freedom from traditional expectations. They used the squats to collaborate in cultural and social enterprises; writing poetry, creating art, playing hockey and engaging in political activism. 

Read the full article here.