Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence by Adrienne Rich

Before elaborating on Rich’s argument, it is important to clarify her definition of compulsory heterosexuality as sexuality that is “both forcibly and subliminally imposed on women” (“Compulsory” 24). My purpose is not to question Rich’s assessment of sexuality and oppression, but rather to examine how the institution of heterosexuality as depicted in “Compulsory Heterosexuality and the Lesbian Experience” impacted her life and career. Her article delves deeply into men’s power over women’s expression of sexuality, and how the expectation of heterosexuality further oppresses lesbian women. She notably popularized the term “compulsory heterosexuality” in the 1980’s through her essay “Compulsory Heterosexuality and the Lesbian Experience,” which brought her to the forefront of feminist and lesbian discourse.

Lesbian Identity is the sense of self of a woman bonded primarily to women who is sexually and emotionally independent of men.Unlearning “Compulsory Heterosexuality”: The Evolution of Adrienne Rich’s PoetryĪdrienne Rich (1929-2012) was an American poet and essayist, best known for her contributions to the radical feminist movement. It was not written to widen divisions but to encourage heterosexual feminists to examine heterosexuality as a political institution which disempowers women and to change it.

It was written to challenge the erasure of lesbian existence from a large amount of scholarly feminist literature.

Adrienne Rich argues that heterosexuality is not “natural” or intrinsic in human instincts, but an institution imposed upon many cultures and societies that render women in a subordinate situation. Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existenceįrom Wikipedia: Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence is a 1980 essay by Adrienne Rich, which was also published in her 1986 book Blood, Bread, and Poetry: Selected Prose 1979-1985.Ĭompulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence is a text that is constructed to think about and inspire change about lesbian visibility, structures of lesbian sexuality, and the role of literary criticism in relationship to lesbianism.

Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence by Adrienne Rich