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[–]Radish 15 insightful - 1 fun15 insightful - 0 fun16 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I think you have to define your terms here. My understanding is that "radical" feminism means "to the root" which means addressing the root cause of oppression. (spoiler: it's men) I agree with the concept but don't know whether that makes me a radical feminist by other standards, because it seems so complicated now. Why is because it is obvious and makes sense.

My understanding of political lesbianism as originally practiced had to do with devoting one's energy and time to women and withdrawing from the physical and emotional labor and did not mean compulsory genital activity with women. Now I am told that it means forcing oneself to be a lesbian regardless of attraction, which is not going to be healthy for you or for any woman you engage with sexually on that level. I do believe in the former; men have taken enough of our time and support. I don't believe in the latter. I don't think it's a good idea to engage in sex you don't want. Seriously, that sounds a lot more like being a TRA. I am a lifelong lesbian, however, so my perspective may be different from some.

Also, if you're going to go on vaguely about "anti-science beliefs" you need to define your terms and say what is anti-science about your understanding of radical feminist ideas. Your (and many others, I guess) concept of political lesbianism may be icky and too close to trans demands that we be attracted to them, but is not opposed to science or denies science in any way. I don't know of any radfem, or any person with radfem ideals who is "anti-science" but then again, I don't get out much.

[–]usehername[S] 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

My understanding is that "radical" feminism means "to the root" which means addressing the root cause of oppression. (spoiler: it's men) I agree with the concept but don't know whether that makes me a radical feminist by other standards, because it seems so complicated now.

I also want to address the root cause of women's oppression, but it seems there is a specific philosophy detailed in literature by such people as Andrea Dworkin, Shelia Jeffreys, and Julie Bindel, which I do not agree with.

My understanding of political lesbianism as originally practiced had to do with devoting one's energy and time to women and withdrawing from the physical and emotional labor and did not mean compulsory genital activity with women.

I have heard that explanation before, but the fact is, prominent radfem activists like Julie Bindel (possibly a real lesbian, but it's hardly relevant because she believes that she chose to be a lesbian and that sexual orientation is a choice https://www.newstatesman.com/society/2014/07/julie-bindel-theres-no-gay-gene-and-i-love-idea-i-chose-be-lesbian) and Sheila Jeffreys do consider themselves actual, real, women-loving lesbians. From Sheila Jeffreys's book, "The Spinster and Her Enemies" :

Sheila Jeffreys is a lesbian and a revolutionary feminist who has been active in feminist campaigns against male violence, pornography and prostitution in Britain and in Australia for twenty years. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Melbourne, where she teaches sexual politics and lesbian and gay politics.

She calls herself a lesbian and clearly thinks she's qualified to teach "lesbian and gay politics". I also saw a video of her where she said she was surprised and excited when she realized she could "choose to be a lesbian".

Your (and many others, I guess) concept of political lesbianism may be icky and too close to trans demands that we be attracted to them, but is not opposed to science or denies science in any way.

It is opposed to science because they're claiming that it's possible to choose your sexual orientation, which is simply impossible, and studies have shown that there are people who are truly only attracted to one sex. The fact that conversion therapy fails every time also gives credibility to the fact that sexual orientation is an immutable trait. As a lesbian, I'm sure you can understand that you will never be attracted to men, even if you really tried. Are you really saying that the claim that it's possible to choose your sexual orientation isn't anti-science?

what is anti-science

Other than the idea that you can choose your sexual orientation, I've also heard claims that PIV sex is completely unnatural. If a penis is never meant to enter the vagina, which they say should be used exclusively as a birth canal, then why does the cervix raise during ovulation? How are humans supposed to procreate? If the man were just supposed to put his penis right at the vaginal opening to ejaculate, then why wouldn't the cervix become lower in order to catch the sperm?

They also claim that birth is inherently an act that destroys women by design, which justifies their claim that all PIV is rape and women only enjoy sex with men because of trauma bonding. That does happen, but humans enjoy sex because it is necessary for the survival of the species, and the only reason birth is so traumatic and dangerous for humans is that farming caused us to have a diet that's poorer in nutrients, meaning a human won't grow as tall (therefore smaller pelvis), but the high carbs and sugar cause the baby to grow big. http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161221-the-real-reasons-why-childbirth-is-so-painful-and-dangerous

[–]VioletRemi 8 insightful - 6 fun8 insightful - 5 fun9 insightful - 6 fun -  (0 children)

I had an experience with political lesbian, I was just experimenting after I accepted myself as a lesbian. I lived in homophobic society and even married a man in tries to start loving men, my ex-husband was really great person, one of best men I've ever met and we are still friends, but nothing worked in bed between us, I insisted to go to doctors to fix it, but they just said I am either asexual or frigid, we divorced and then I slept with a woman in dormitory and found out that I am not asexual - I am very sexually active, I just can't be aroused by men, only can be aroused by women. So after finding that out and my first relationship with bisexual women, I started experimenting, I found radfem who was "political lesbian" and "chose to be lesbian" - I thought "I have no idea about sexuality, maybe it is like that, sadly I can't chose for myself, maybe something wrong with me". She had some bad experience with men and wanted to be "all for women" and "separatist", and liked idea of political lesbianism.

However, when I slept with her, she was almost disgusted from it and very irresponsive. I saw in her myself with my ex-husband. Then I realized it is complete bullshit. She just was trying very hard to like women, but was not able to. Same as I tried to like men, really-really tried, but was not able to.

Bindel

You just mentioned her, and here she is: https://twitter.com/LesbianLabour/status/1407596620825440260

Saying that it is just a choice. And there so many homophobic comments there by GC or feminists.

I like this line of comments there, tho: https://twitter.com/Iamthisnotthat1/status/1407678822028398600