Editing Valerie Solanas (section)

=== ''SCUM Manifesto'' ===
{{Main|SCUM Manifesto}}

In 1967, Solanas self-published her best-known work, the ''SCUM Manifesto'', a scathing critique of [[Patriarchy|patriarchal culture]]. The manifesto's opening words are:<ref>{{harvp|Solanas|1967|p=1}}.</ref><ref>{{harvp|DeMonte|2010|p=178}}.</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=<!-- The quotation marks within the quotation are in the original. -->"Life" in this "society" being, at best, an utter bore and no aspect of "society" being at all relevant to women, there remains to civic-minded, responsible, thrill-seeking females only to overthrow the government, eliminate the money system, institute complete automation and eliminate the male sex.}}

Some authors have argued that the ''Manifesto'' is a [[SCUM Manifesto#As parody and satire|parody and satirical work]] targeting patriarchy. According to Harding, Solanas described herself as "a social propagandist",<ref>{{harvp|Harding|2010|p=152}}, citing {{harvp|Frank|1996|p=211}}.</ref> but she denied that the work was "a put on"<ref name="Marmorstein_9">{{harvp|Marmorstein|1968|p=9}}.</ref> and insisted that her intent was "dead serious".<ref name="Marmorstein_9" /> The ''Manifesto'' has been translated into over a dozen languages and is excerpted in several [[feminism|feminist]] anthologies.<ref>{{harvp|Hewitt|2004|p=603}}.</ref><ref>{{harvp|Morgan|1970|pp=514–519}}.</ref><ref>See also {{harvp|Rich|1993|p=17}}.</ref><ref>{{harvp|Heller|2008|p=165}}, citing as excerpting ''SCUM Manifesto'':<br />{{cite book |editor1-last=Kolmar |editor1-first=Wendy |editor2-last=Bartkowski |editor2-first=Frances |title=Feminist Theory: A Reader |location=Mountain View, California |publisher=Mayfield |date=2000}}<br /> {{cite book |editor1-last=Albert |editor1-first=Judith Clavir |editor2-last=Albert |editor2-first=Stewart Edward |title=The Sixties Papers: Documents of a Rebellious Decade |date=1984}}</ref>

While living at the [[Hotel Chelsea|Chelsea Hotel]], Solanas introduced herself to Girodias, a fellow resident of the hotel. In August 1967, Girodias and Solanas signed<ref>{{harvp|Harron|1996|p=xxi}}.</ref> an informal contract stating that she would give Girodias her "next writing, and other writings".<ref name="Baer-Outlaw-p202">{{harvp|Kaufman|Ortenberg|Rosset|2004|p=202}}.</ref> In exchange, Girodias paid her $500.<ref name="Baer-Outlaw-p202" /><ref>{{harvp|Watson|2003|p=334}}.</ref><ref name="BaerAbt-p51">{{harvp|Baer|1996|p=51}}.</ref> Solanas took this to mean that Girodias would own her work.<ref name="BaerAbt-p51" /> She told [[Paul Morrissey]] that "everything I write will be his. He's done this to me&nbsp;.... He's screwed me!"<ref name="BaerAbt-p51" /> Solanas intended to write a novel based on the ''SCUM Manifesto'' and believed that a conspiracy was behind Warhol's failure to return the ''Up Your Ass'' script. She suspected that he was coordinating with Girodias to steal her work.