On Rich’s Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence
I know I’m no lesbian but I gotta say, Adrienne Rich has a point.
"Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" is a 1980 essay by Adrienne Rich (a lesbian and a prominent figure of the Feminist Movement who was a major contributor to the Gay and Lesbian Criticism and the Queer Theory). The essay was first published in her 1986 book entitled Blood Bread and Poetry.
Rich denounces those Feminists who fights for the rights of the women but assume the persona of a heterosexual, middle class female. She argued that the traditional Feminists turn a blind eye to the existence of homosexual females.
In her essay, she discusses 3 main topics. These three are:
- sexualized relations of power within institutions
- lesbian experience/lesbian continuum
- questions of sexual identity
According to Rich, women are subjected to social expectations laid down by men (i.e. that women should be "attractive" and supportive of the males whom are proclaimed as superiors, that women are sexually accessilble to men, etc.). One example of this is the males’ search for trophy wives. Basically, what Rich was trying to imply is that these behavioral expectations consist the views of COMPULSORY HETEROSEXUALITY. Everyone is "mandated" to be staright. She also pointed out that this is a way of men to systematically ensure their power over women since these "filling of designated roles" subtley undermines the role of women, thereby labeling them as the "inferiors" or "the weaker other sex".
Furthermore, heterosexuality is compulsory because only partners of the opposite sex are deemed appropriate. Therefore, all same-sex desires must be denied or indulged in secrecy, and various kinds of same-sex bondings are looked upon with suspiscion.
It is rather important to note that heterosexuality is imposed, managed, organized, propagandized, and maintained by society. Women receive messages that promote heterosexual behavior in the form of myths and norms. Such myths include the VAGINAL ORGASM. This is a myth that serves to imply that a man is the only one who’s capable of satisfying a woman sexually and likewise prevents women from having relationships with other women for fear of not being given sexual satisfaction.
On a more important note, compulsory heterosexuality punishes those who do not comply to such behavior. This makes same-sex relationships become taboo, and often, criminalized. This leads to intolerance and the "choosing not to see" of gay men and lesbians in the society.
Forging on to the next point which is the Lesbian Experience/Continuum. Under this topic, Rich calls forth for a greater understanding of homosexuality. She belives that once this understanding is already eminent, the boundaries will be widened and women will be able to experience the "erotic" in female terms. Lesbian Experience refers to the historical and contemporary presence of lesbian creation while Lesbian Continuum refers to the entire range of a woman-identified experience. This kind of experience has a theme of RESISTANCE and REJECTION to the patriarchy and the male sovereignty over women.
Lastly, Rich’s essay talks about Questions of Sexual Identity. Under this, queries such as how sexuality is formed are answered. It can be said that this helped pave the way for the Queer Theory. In toto, sexuality is not at all essential or innate. It is a social-conditioning response. It is socio-culturally bound.
