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[–]WildwoodFlower 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (9 children)

I thought "political lesbians" were feminist separatist types (mostly from the 70s) who tried to make a conscious decision to forget about men and pursue relationships with women. Anyhow, that's the impression I got from reading a Dorothy Allison essay back in the 90s. The definition may have changed since then.

[–]oofreesouloo 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I don't know precisely, but yes I know they were feminists and NON lesbians. No lesbian needs to "forget men" lmao.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

That is my understanding it of it as well - straight women who consciously decide to live as lesbians and aren't naturally attracted to women, or at least very much prefer men sexually. I don't think a bisexual who naturally prefers women would count as "a political lesbian."

[–]oofreesouloo 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

What people here have told me was the opposite - that it's more common for bisexual woman to use it than straight women (because bisexual women already have attraction towards women, they just choose to "forget" or purposely don't act on the opposite sex attraction). Either way, I despise political lesbians (regardless of them being straight or bisexual women)

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I fear political lesbians because I don't want to wind up with someone who is only pretending to be attracted to me. I do not care if a bisexual woman opts out of dating men - if she's genuinely attracted and committed to me, I don't care if she's also attracted to men.

[–]oofreesouloo 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I simply wont date political lesbians lmao. Regardless of their sexuality, I won't waste my time on someone whose sexuality is a "lifestyle" and a political move

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Political lesbians are febfems and celibate straight women who are female separatists. You don’t have to fuck women to be a political lesbian, is what I thought it was

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It does say on the wiki that some "political lesbians" opt to be asexual or celibate, which strikes me as weird, but you are correct. It looks like so long as they're opting out of heterosexual relationships, it counts.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah, and they don’t have to sleep with women either. It’s a woman-centred political stance, but it doesn’t mean women “decide” to fuck women. Maybe some realise they are bi or lesbian but it’s not mandatory to be a lesbian as in a homosexual. That is why it’s called “political lesbian” and not lesbian. But that might be a wrong interpretation