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[–]oofreesouloo 23 insightful - 2 fun23 insightful - 1 fun24 insightful - 2 fun -  (6 children)

Excuse me my bluntness, but I really don't care about the history of political lesbianism and all the 'why's'. I'm not a feminist and I'm not interested in being involved in it, though I recognize the importance of feminism in several (not all) aspects. I'm fed up of my sexual orientation, something that is just innate to me and that it just is because it is to be constantly associated with men, men, men for various reasons when it's actually the opposite. I'm a lesbian because I want, desire women, NOT because I do not want men. (EDIT: Obviously, not wanting men is part of being a lesbian, but it isn't the MAIN thing and it seems that many people are constantly preaching the idea that a lesbian is a lesbian because of bad experiences with men and center lesbianism around men all the time ugh)

You're totally free to see your sexual orientation the way it 'fits' you the most, just like I'm also free of not agreeing with a certain standpoint and despising political lesbianism.

[–]a_blue_bird 23 insightful - 2 fun23 insightful - 1 fun24 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

it seems that many people are constantly preaching the idea that a lesbian is a lesbian because of bad experiences with men and center lesbianism around men all the time

You can thank the political lesbians for that. They were the ones who proudly announced to the world that because men have been so horrible to them, they have now become lesbians. This is the image that they created for lesbians.

[–]oofreesouloo 21 insightful - 2 fun21 insightful - 1 fun22 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Totally, that's why I despise them so much. I upvoted your comment as well, it was very insightful but I wished I hadn't read that mess that is political lesbianism. God, I hate this post.

[–]lairacunda 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I know, it's so weird defining your lesbianism by what you don't want as opposed to what you do want.

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

No worries. I understand where you're coming from and I'd just like to point out you seem to think we disagree when we don't. I personally don't define lesbians as not liking men, I was discussing the historical context and the reasons why we find ourselves in a bit of a mess. Sorry I wasn't clear, painful subject, I should know.

Edit. I just realized you must think I'm a political lesbian because I said respect to Sheila Jeffrey's lol. I didn't know she was one, my respect was to her as a second wave feminist and an elder, not for her political lesbianism theory.

[–][deleted] 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I’m not a political lesbian either, but I recognize that we all had to choose to come out, and that it was an option for us because of second wave feminists with ideas everyone now hates because the world changed enough for us to realize we are innately lesbian even if we took different paths to figure it out. I don’t believe we can actually choose which sex our bodies respond to, but I know a hell of a lot of choices go into becoming an open lesbian in the world, and many women are not so lucky.

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

it was an option for us because of second wave feminists with ideas everyone now hates

I agree with that, as I said elsewhere. And I think in the sixties political lesbianism gave quite a few deeply closeted women the chance to start questioning, because its basic precept is stop thinking about pleasing men and be independent. Now that frees up some space in your head to question why are you so miserable in your marriage.

My main issue with political lesbianism is the name like a mentioned in another post. But again, this is a historic theory and applying the standards of today to judge it should be used with that understanding. Perhaps if we are to discuss such things again I shan't wade in without having read more. But anyway it was very informative :)