Founded in 1976, Remue-ménage is the leading independent francophone feminist publisher in America and is based in Montreal. Its has become a reference for anyone interested in women’s and gender minorities’ history, voices, experience, and creation.
From the start, the publishing house was part of a series of pioneer feminist protests and publications. Although it had an autonomous editorial structure, its main goal was to represent the women of Quebec, to appeal to socialist women, to women in favour of independence, to women in working-class neighbourhoods, and above all to the forgotten housewives. Its name, that can be translated as “shake-up”, “bustle” or “to make a fuss”, evokes movement, energy and upheaval. We have never ceased to publish books designed to open the debate and to challenge conventional beliefs and stereotypes. Several of our books are founding texts for the women's movement.
Almost 50 years later, it is still a collective adventure supported by a community of authors, artists and activists, whose legacy now includes a catalogue of over 450 books. Our books promote exploratory forms, creativity, interdisciplinarity and reflection on demanding subjects. We like to think of Remue-menage as a microphone held out to the emerging and unheard voices, reclaiming the value of negated speech and supporting those who denounce violence.
We publish books in French, with a few exceptions, both in fiction (novels, youth) and non-fiction. We have translated major works by American feminists like Silvia Federici, Andrea Dworkin, Myriam Chancy and Patricia Hill Collins. Our non-fiction list covers gender studies, queer studies, social sciences, history, art, and literature.