lesbian feminism and gender roles

I had some lingering thoughts stemming from Friday’s discussion, so that’s my focus for this entry. Although I do see the arguments behind lesbian feminism, I also find it problematic.

The concept of political lesbianism may have worked to re-enforce feminism through complete separation from men, but it seems to undermine homosexuality. Choosing to act as a lesbian might act suggests that it is a choice for everyone and that everyone can choose NOT to be a lesbian. I imagine that this is one of the reasons that many actual lesbians resented these political lesbians. Going off of this idea, I take issue with the concept that “lesbians are feminists, not homosexuals.” Again, this suggests first that lesbianism is always a choice, but it also suggests that lesbianism is always political. There is more to feminism than being a lesbian and there is nothing inherent in being a lesbian that suggests wanting equality for women, but more a sexual preference for women. While having a relationship with another women may ensure that there is no misogyny at home, these women may still subject themselves (willingly or unwillingly) to such misogyny elsewhere.

Another issue worth mention, something that we have not discussed in class, is the stance that some of these lesbian feminists took on gay men. Although not all shared this opinion, some thought that gay men weren’t doing enough to do away with gender, especially by accepting the antics of drag queens and butch lesbians, but it seems to me that this challenge of gender is as important to getting rid of gender norms as the rejection of gender all together. By making people question their conceptions of gender, you can reassert the absurdity of inequality between genders. While this is clearly a very different tactic, it seems that both have their merit. I am not suggestion, however, that the gay movement did not have its own elements of misogyny, but I do not think that drag queens were the ones reinforcing gender inequlities.