Compulsory
Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence
Adrienne Rich
Define what Rich means by “compulsory heterosexuality” and
“lesbian existence” using specific evidence from the text.
Compulsory:
obligatory, mandatory, or required.
Heterosexual: straight;
the relationship between a male and female.
Compulsory heterosexuality as a dominant ideology indicates
that the relationship between a man and woman is essential and without it, we
would not be able to reproduce and grow. Compulsory heterosexuality assumes
that everyone is straight, that all women are attracted to men sexually and
financially, forcing those who do not identify as “straight”, to “hide in the
closet” and hide their true sexual orientation. Rich adds that in Nancy
Chodorow’s book she explains “This heterosexual preference and taboos on
homosexuality, in a addition to objective economic dependence on men, make the
option of primary sexual bonds with other women unlikely” (84)… That women will
turn to marriage as a “hoped-for protection” from some of the economic
disadvantages they face in comparison to men (87).
Rich says that although
heterosexuality is simply a choice, it is not seen like one because it is so compulsory,
chosen and developed for us with all the forces, in our culture. Rich
acknowledges that “constraints and sanction which historically have enforced or
ensured the coupling of women with men and obstructed or penalized women’s
coupling or allying in independent groups with other women”(84). He goes on to
explain that the “closing of archives and destruction of documents relating to
lesbian existence, idealization of heterosexual romance in art, literature, the
media, advertising”, male power, etc. are forms of heterosexual compulsions
that monitor the way people express their sexual orientation and with that tries
to erase the existence of lesbians (85).
Moreover, Rich goes to explain that
in The Mermaid and the Minotaur: Sexual
Arrangements and the Human Malaise, by Dorothy Dinnerstein, Dinnerstein
tries to state that “there is a mystical/biological heterosexual inclination, a
“preference” or “choice” which draws women toward men” (84). Rich says that “it
assumes that women who have chosen women have done so simply because men are
oppressive and emotionally unavailable, which fails to account for women who
continue to pursue relationship with oppressive and/or emotionally unsatisfying
men”, but Rich does not agree with that (84). I feel like this monitors
compulsory heterosexuality by giving an excuse for a lesbian’s sexual preference.
So to say that it is not a choice or a desire that they are with other women,
but because men have done them wrong so they have turned to women. When in
reality they were probably women who were lesbians forced to stay in the closet
by our cultures heterosexual compulsions. With that I leave you with these
quotes.
“Lesbian existence comprises both the breaking of a taboo
and the rejection of a compulsory way of life.” - RICH
“Feminism is the answer to compulsory heterosexuality and
used as a tool to break out” - CHRIS
Class Discussion:
Class Discussion:
In the beginning of the semester we learned that in the
first wave of feminism, feminists through out black women and now we read in
Adrienne Rich’s text that it throws out lesbians.
Compulsory
heterosexuality
(Compulsory means obligated so its saying that heterosexuality
is required)
- The idea that there is such thing as heterosexuality, that
it is required to function and to reproduce and progress. It is mandatory
because it is deep down in the roots
- It’s the assumption that all women are attracted to men
not just sexually but romantically, financially, economically, everything
- Lesbians are seen as “girl version” of men
- Men are always present as powerful
- Rich says that heterosexuality is merely a choice
- Heterosexuality is so compulsory in our culture that it is
almost not seen as a choice
- Rich says that in fact heterosexuality is not always
there, it could be something chosen or developed in us because of the forces of
the culture.
- Ex) Dr. Bogad’s son is only 8
months old and every one has already decided that he is going to be a ladies
man because of his long eyelashes. That is compulsory heterosexuality
-There are a lot of ways that heterosexuality is compulsory
-Media,
male power, literature
- The erasure of lesbian existence happened because of the
powerful source of compulsory heterosexuality. It is policed by society
- If you have a son and he wears a
pink bib, everyone will tell you to take it off
- Compulsory Heterosexuality is a form of dominant ideology.
- Pronoun use (he, she) is another way it is policied
Compulsory Heterosexuality is maintained:
Passive:
- Assumes everyone is straight
Active:
- People are forced to hide “in the closet”
- They are
silenced, made absent, and invisible
- Closets around sexual orientation are small, dark, and
have one door
- The closet is the result of compulsory heterosexuality
- Compulsory heterosexuality is a system that policies how
people express their sexual orientation so it forces people to hide in the
closet
- Feminism is the answer to compulsory heterosexuality and
used as a tool to break out
