Varalika Deswal, week 4

         Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence –Adrienne Rich

The author talks about heterosexuality as an institution and uses the term “compulsory heterosexuality” to show the assumed nature of female sexuality. Heterosexuality is enforced by the patriarchal society to make the interaction between men and women simpler. In both literature and social sciences women have been shown to be attracted to men only which suppresses the lesbian experience or makes it look deviant. At times the strong presence of heterosexual tones in text also makes homosexuality totally invisible. According to the author a critique of the compulsory heterosexuality in our society is long overdue and really important to give relevance to lesbians and their experiences; which will in turn liberate women’s voices and preferences regarding their sexual identities. The author also discusses the very nature of heterosexuality and believes that it is more than just a sexual orientation but a political institution enforced to make women feel secondary to men. The author also says that homosexual relations could provide women more economic and social security rather than the male dominance that they face in a relationship with men, she also emphasis that individual men are not to blame but it is rather the institution of patriarchy that exercises exploitative power over women.