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Political lesbianism is a phenomenon withinfeminism, primarilysecond-wave feminism andradical feminism; it includes, but is not limited to,lesbian separatism. Political lesbianism asserts thatsexual orientation is a political and feminist choice, and advocateslesbianism as a positive alternative toheterosexuality for women[1] as part of the struggle againstsexism.[2]
Political lesbianism originated in the late 1960s among "second-wave" radical feminists as a way to fight sexism andcompulsory heterosexuality.[citation needed]Sheila Jeffreys helped to develop the concept when she co-wrote in 1981 "Love Your Enemy? The Debate Between Heterosexual Feminism and Political Lesbianism" with theLeeds Revolutionary Feminist Group.[3] They argued that women should abandon heterosexuality and stop sleeping with men, while encouraging women to rid men "from your beds and your heads".[4]
While the main idea of political lesbianism is to be separate from men, this does not necessarily mean that political lesbians are required to have sex with women.[5] According to theLeeds Revolutionary Feminist Group, the definition of a political lesbian is "awoman-identified woman who does not fuck men".[citation needed] They proclaimed men the enemy and women who were in relationships with them, collaborators and complicit in their own oppression.[5] Heterosexual behaviour is seen as the basic unit of thepatriarchy's political structure, and therefore lesbians who reject heterosexual behaviour are seen as disrupting the established political system.[6]
Ti-Grace Atkinson, a radical feminist who helped found the groupThe Feminists, is credited with the phrase that came to embody the movement: "Feminism is the theory; lesbianism is the practice."[7][8]
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For some women, feminism provided a platform to escape a perceived suffocating shell ofheterosexual norms, traditionalsexuality,marriage and family life; a life viewed by some feminists as one of hard labor with little consideration and a system that subordinates women.[citation needed] Political lesbians argue that by further removing themselves from dominating heterosexual relationships and declaring themselves as lesbians, women are aligning themselves with shared interests of women, i.e. the political identification of women with other women.[citation needed] This is partly based on the idea that women sharing and promoting a common interest creates a positive and needed energy which is necessary to enhance and elevate the role of women in the society, a development which will be curtailed by the institutions of heterosexuality andsexism if women choose the traditional norms.[5][2]
Political lesbianism realigns the issue of lesbianism as one focused purely on personal pain or anguish, instead framing it as an important political issue and feminist strategy.[2] In this sense, it defines lesbianism not purely in terms ofsexuality.
Though there has historically been discrimination against lesbians within the feminist movement, the movement still ended up providing a needed political platform for them. In its wake, it also expanded and introduced divergent views of sexuality.[9]
Separatist feminism is a form of radical feminism that holds that opposition topatriarchy is best done through focusing exclusively on women and girls.[10] Generally, separatist feminists do not believe that men can make positive contributions to thefeminist movement, and that even well-intentioned men replicate the dynamics of patriarchy.[11] In a similar vein, lesbian separatism advocated for the separation of lesbian women from what they characterise as a heterosexist, sexist society.[12][13]
Charlotte Bunch, an early member ofThe Furies Collective, viewed lesbian separatism as a strategy, a "first step" period, or temporary withdrawal from mainstream activism to accomplish specific goals or enhancepersonal growth.[14] Members of The Furies Collective recommended that lesbian separatists relate "only (with) women who cut their ties tomale privilege"[6] and suggest that "as long as women still benefit from heterosexuality, receive its privileges and security, they will at some point have to betray their sisters, especially Lesbian sisters who do not receive those benefits".[6]
Some feminist theory on sexuality evadedbiological fixation and embracedsocial construction as the basis of sexuality.[citation needed][clarification needed] However, this idea posed further questions on the subject of sexuality and lesbianism, and the long-term sustainability of a purely lesbian society without men or children.[citation needed] If sexuality could be a construction ofhuman nature, then little room is given to understanding the nature of the historical formation of human nature, especially, if the historical nature of man or woman enhanced heterosexuality.[9][clarification needed]
A lack oftheoretical clarity of lesbianism and sexuality becomes more profound as sexuality is viewed as much more than choice.[15][16][clarification needed] Also, if lesbianism becomes asocial institution, the avenue for a dominant persona in the relationships may also pose challenge to the original intention of political lesbianism.[clarification needed] According toA Dictionary of Gender Studies, some lesbians who believed themselves to be 'born that way' considered political lesbians or those who believe lesbianism is a choice based on institutionalised heterosexuality were appropriating the term 'lesbian' and not experiencing or speaking out against the oppression that those women experience.[17] Additionally, some feminists argue that "political lesbianism," which reduces lesbianism as a political choice to reject men and thepenises, overlooks the deeply personal nature of lesbianism as an expression of attraction between women and erases the experiences oftrans women and their lesbian partners.[18]
We do think that all feminists can and should be political lesbians. Our definition of a political lesbian is a woman-identified woman who does not fuck men. It does not mean compulsory sexual activity with women.
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