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Heterosexuality and Feminist Theory*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1988

Christine Overall
Christine Overall*
Affiliation:
Queen's University, Kingston, ON, CanadaK7L 3N6
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Extract

Heterosexuality, which I define as a romantic and sexual orientation toward persons not of one's own sex, is apparently a very general, though not entirely universal, characteristic of the human condition. In fact, it is so ubiquitous a part of human interactions and relations as to be almost invisible, and so natural-seeming as to appear unquestionable. Indeed, the 1970 edition of The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘heterosexual’ as ‘pertaining to or characterized by the normal relation of the sexes.’

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Philosophy , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , March 1990 , pp. 1 - 17
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 1990

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References

* An earlier version of this paper was first presented at the Queen's University Philosophy Department Colloquium, and I am grateful for the suggestions which I received. I am particularly indebted to Michael Fox for his detailed and thoughtful commentary.

1 Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, Addenda (1970), my emphasis

2 Frances Giberson has pointed out to me that celibacy could also be thought of as a type of non-heterosexuality, indeed, a rejection of the heterosexual institution. In men, the absence of heterosexual behaviour is usually taken as prima facie evidence of homosexuality; whereas in women, the absence of heterosexual behaviour is often taken to mean the woman is celibate. Unfortunately, there is not space in this paper to explore further the important issues connected with celibacy.

3 See Overall, Christine ‘Sexuality, Parenting, and Reproductive Choices,’ Resources For Feminist Research/Documentation sur la recherche feministe 16 (September 1987) 44Google Scholar.

4 Frye, Marilyn ‘Some Reflections on Separatism and Power,’ in her The Politics of Reality: Essays in Feminist Theory (Trumansburg, NY: The Crossing Press 1983) 106-7Google Scholar, Frye's emphasis

5 And it has been done. See, for example, Buchbinder's, Howard ‘Male Heterosexuality: The Socialized Penis Revisited,’ in Buchbinder, Howard et al., eds., Who's On Top? The Politics of Heterosexuality (Toronto: Garamond Press 1987) 63–82Google Scholar.

6 Vance, Carole S. and Snitow, Ann Barr ‘Toward a Conversation About Sex in Feminism: A Modest Proposal,’ Signs 10 (1984) 127CrossRefGoogle Scholar

7 Bleier, Ruth Science and Gender: A Critique of Biology and Its Theories on Women (New York: Pergamon Press 1984) 166Google Scholar

8 Valverde, Mariana Sex, Power and Pleasure (Toronto: Women's Press 1985) 113-14Google Scholar

9 Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, my emphasis

10 Soble, Alan ‘Preface: Changing Conceptions of Human Sexuality,’ in Shelp, Earl E. ed., Sexuality and Medicine: Conceptual Roots (Boston: D. Reidel 1987) xiliGoogle Scholar

11 Valverde, 50

12 Rich, Adrienne ‘Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence,’ in Stimpson, Catharine R. and Person, Ethel Spector eds., Women: Sex and Sexuality (Chicago: University of Chicago Press 1980) 62–91Google Scholar

13 Campbell, Beatrix ‘A Feminist Sexual Politics: Now You See It, Now You Don't,' in The Feminist Review, ed., Sexuality: A Reader (London: Virago Press 1987) 23Google Scholar

14 Valverde, 114

15 Ibid., 62-3

16 The question is taken from the title of Hamblin's, Angela article, ‘Is a Feminist Heterosexuality Possible?,’ in Cartledge, Sue and Ryan, Joanna eds., Sex and Love: New Thoughts on Old Contradictions (London: The Women's Press 1983) 105-23Google Scholar.

17 Bleier, 182-3. Cf. Ferguson, Ann ‘Patriarchy, Sexual Identity, and the Sexual Revolution,’ in Keohane, Nannerl O. Rosaldo, Michelle Z. and Gelpi, Barbara C. eds., Feminist Theory: A Critique of Ideology (Chicago: University of Chicago Press 1982) 159Google Scholar.

18 Bunch, Charlotte ‘Not For Lesbians Only,’ in Bunch, Charlotte et al., eds., Building Feminist Theory: Essays From Quest (New York: Longman 1981) 69Google Scholar

19 Valverde, 114-15

20 Wilson Schaef, Anne Women's Reality: An Emerging Female System in a White Male Society (Minneapolis: Winston Press 1985) 47Google Scholar

21 Frye, Marilyn ‘Lesbian Feminism and the Gay Rights Movement: Another View of Male Supremecy, Another Separatism,’ in The Politics of Reality, 147Google Scholar. Michael Ramberg has pointed out to me that to say ‘I don't think of myself as heterosexual' could also mean ‘I am not only heterosexual’ or ‘I will not always be heterosexual.'

22 Frye, Marilyn ‘On Being White: Toward A Feminist Understanding of Race and Race Supremecy,’ in The Politics of Reality, 116Google Scholar, her emphasis

23 Frye, Marilyn ‘Sexism,’ in The Politics of Reality, 29Google Scholar, her emphasis

24 Frye, ‘On Being White,’ 127Google Scholar

25 Frye, Marilyn ‘A Lesbian Perspective on Women's Studies,’ in Cruikshank, Margaret ed., Lesbian Studies: Present and Future (Old Westbury, NY: The Feminist Press 1982) 197Google Scholar

26 See Arnup, Katherine ‘Lesbian Feminist Theory,’ Resources for Feminist Research/Documentation sur la recherche feministe 12 (March 1983) 55Google Scholar.

27 Gottlieb, Amy ‘Mothers, Sisters, Lovers, Listen,’ in Fitzgerald, Maureen Guberman, Connie and Wolfe, Margie eds., Still Ain't Satisfied! Canadian Feminism Today (Toronto: Women's Press 1982) 238-9Google Scholar

28 Ketchum, Sara Ann and Pierce, Christine ‘Separatism and Sexual Relationships,’ in Bishop, Sharon and Weinzweig, Marjorie eds., Philosophy and Women (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth 1979) 167, 168Google Scholar

29 Hamblin, 117

30 See Leeds Revolutionary Feminist Group, ‘Political Lesbianism: The Case Against Heterosexuality,’ in Love Your Enemy? The Debate Between Heterosexual Feminism and Political Lesbianism (London: Onlywomen Press 1981) 5-10.Google Scholar

31 Rich, Adrienne Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution (New York: Bantam Books 1976)Google Scholar

32 Frye, ‘On Being White,’ 127Google Scholar

33 Russ, Joanna Magic Mommas, Trembling Sisters, Puritans and Perverts (Trumansburg, NY: The Crossing Press 1985) 67Google Scholar

34 Rich, ‘Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence,’ 81Google Scholar