Separatism is a mode of thought—often borne of oppression (real, perceived, or otherwise)—that advocates dividing the human species along lines of particular shared/homogenous traits. Oppression of a particular identity group by other elements of the human species is often utilized as a grievance explaining the need for group isolation. Such oppression is, according [...]
Archive for the ‘sexuality’ Category
Separatism (lesbian, et al.)—definition and critique
Posted in activism, emancipation, feminism, feminist theory, gender, lesbian, liberation, patriarchy, separatism, sexuality on July 21, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Compulsory Heterosexuality
Posted in Adrienne Rich, heterosexuality, lesbian, norms, sexuality on July 18, 2007 | 2 Comments »
Compulsory Heterosexuality refers to the idea that heterosexuality, as a default sexual orientation, can be adopted by people regardless of their personal sexual preferences. Compulsory means “mandatory”, “obligatory”, or “required”. A person’s heterosexuality is generally assumed until proven otherwise; by both one’s self and those around her. Those who have never “thought about” or questioned [...]
Womanism
Posted in Alice Walker, black feminism, feminism, oppression, race, sexuality, womanism on July 17, 2007 | 12 Comments »
“Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender” -Alice Walker
Womanism is a feminist term coined by Alice Walker. It is a reaction to the realization that “feminism” does not encompass the perspectives Black women. It is a feminism that is “stronger in color”, nearly identical to “Black Feminism”. However, Womanism does not need to [...]
queer
Posted in identity, queer, sexuality on July 15, 2007 | 4 Comments »
“Queer” is a word with an evolving history, and a word whose potential reclamation for the positive is discussed today.
My searching shows that “queer” is of Scottish origin and in 1508 meant “strange, peculiar, eccentric”. That’s how it was defined to me by my dad when I was 11 and he was insulting a [...]
Default
Posted in Object, Other, Subject, binary, feminism, male, male privilege, normality, norms, race, sexuality, supremacy, white on July 9, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Default (de·fault – [di-fawlt]) n.
A term used to denote normality and neutrality and identify adherents to it. Similar to what one might find as the ‘defaults’ on her computer (Times New Roman type font, the same homepage for internet access, the vertical letter format for printing documents in a printer), the Default is the constant [...]