I wish Saidit were more popular, since I'd just ask this question in a regular radical feminist subreddit. But, regardless, since sexuality and gender are so often intertwined - with the heterosexual status quo stating that men are for women and women are for men - I was wondering about what general thoughts the people on the sub had in regards to erotic interest being a social construct.
I don't really see the concept of political lesbianism being discussed outside of radical feminist circles and literature, and just wanted to get an understanding of how some radfems perceive sexual attraction. When radfems speak of political lesbianism, they're saying that relationships of a sexual and/or romantic nature with men are unhealthy, and led to conflict and unequal dynamics between the sexes. If a woman wants someone to be intimate with, sexually and romantically, there are other women who'd consent to be with her. And the exact same can be said with men. Men are told they should be with women, because of the patriarchal constructs called marriage, natalism, and fatherhood/motherhood. No wonder the sexes are in such horrid conditions, in relation to one another. Heterosexuality (which cannot be divorced from political ideology) is responsible for this mess.
I wanted to say, if you claim sexuality isn't a choice, what exactly are you saying isn't a choice? Are you saying that having sex with people of a certain sex, or both sexes, isn't a choice? Wouldn't that make such instances rape? Are you saying that masturbating to erotica featuring a certain sex, or both sexes, isn't a choice? Is someone forcing you to jack your dick or finger your pussy, holding you hostage as their sexual abuse victim? Are you saying that having sexual fantasies involving people of a certain sex, or both sexes, isn't a choice? Has someone hacked into your mind, controlling your thoughts? Last I checked, such technology hasn't been invented yet (way, way too advanced).
I don't really get the 'being gay isn't a choice' narrative. Choosing to spent your time, when you decide to be sexual, on the sex which makes, in your mind, more sense to be interested in, sounds like every non-heterosexual-shrivelled instance of free erotical expression.
But, anyway, please give me your thoughts.
there doesn't seem to be anything here