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Daphne,
why is it that
straight women so often say the women's movement is anti-heterosexual,
but if you were to ask any
lesbian activist, they would tell you they feel completely alienated from
mainstream feminism because of its homophobia? Lesbians split off and
did their own thing ages ago.
Betty Friedan, Bella Abzug, Gloria Steinem, Germaine Greer, Andrea Dworkin, Catherine MacKinnon, Robin Morgan -- in other words, every famous figure of feminism -- are connected intimately/sexually with men (I know many people think Dworkin is a lesbian, but she actually sued a publisher for libel for referring to her by that label, and has been life partners with John Stoltenberg for years). What's maddening isn't their sexual preference, but the fact that they're such wimps about it. Straight feminists have reacted painfully to straight men baiting them, insinuating or accusing them of being dykes, just because they aren't a regulation "Rules Girl." But even more tragically, straight women often feel burdened down with guilt that they fuck men and can't bring themselves to "defend it" -- as if erotic preference needed a defense! That's the fatal weakness of sexually juvenile feminist sexual politics -- not lesbians. I would give my eyeteeth for straight feminists to come forward with a lusty attitude and no apologies for their sexual preference. You can criticize sexism all day and still find an erotic home for yourself with men, but it's heterosexual women who have to have the guts to articulate that, not dykes! It's like asking black people to tell you why it's okay to be white (which happens all the time too!). Furthermore, the reticence to defend lusty heterosexuality isn't because the lesbians are going to criticize you, it's because straight women know it's VERY unladylike to admit that you like to fuck! You risk losing your potential wife/mommy/lady future if you act like a "whore" and say what you like about cock, what you dig about men, what thrills you about masculinity. I certainly know straight women who have been attracted to the lesbian sex revolution that began in the '80s simply because it was a place where you could gleefully admit you liked sex. This is on my mind because I just wrote a piece for Salon recently about BUST magazine, which is the first "horny" straight girl zine I have ever seen. It thrilled me to no end, and I think they are the guts of any future to mainstream feminism. 
- Susie and Betty's continued discussion |
Question 1 Susie Bright Betty Dodson Nancy Friday Daphne Merkin Sallie Tisdale Question 2 Susie Bright Betty Dodson Nancy Friday Daphne Merkin Sallie Tisdale Question 3 Susie Bright Betty Dodson Nancy Friday Daphne Merkin Sallie Tisdale Question 4 Susie Bright Betty Dodson Nancy Friday Daphne Merkin Sallie Tisdale Question 5 Susie Bright Betty Dodson Nancy Friday Daphne Merkin Sallie Tisdale Question 6 Susie Bright Betty Dodson Nancy Friday Daphne Merkin Sallie Tisdale |
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