8/14/2019 Summary of Compulsory heterosexuality.docx

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8/14/2019 Summary of Compulsory heterosexuality.docx

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Week 2The Hegemony of Heterosexuality

Part 4

For the last section, the concept of women identification serves as the opposition to maleidentification and builds up her argument for a lesbian continuum.

Because the denial of reality and visibility of womens passion for women, there is anincalculable loss of power for women to change the social relations of the sexes, to liberate

themselves and each other. She admonishes that several lies in Western tradition help to perpetuate compulsory

heterosexuality; they are the belief that women are inevitably drawn to men and that womenonly turn to other women out of hatred for men. In this light, the lesbian existence isrepresented as a refuge from male abuse rather than as an empowering charge between

women.

Thus, women have to identify with other women and this will provide a source of energy; itwill be a potential springhead of female power that will help to liberate women from thechains of compulsory heterosexuality.