Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence

Originally published in 1980, when the relationship between lesbianism and feminism was the focus of much debate, this article questions the assumption that the majority of women are naturally heterosexual. Rich argues that heterosexuality is imposed upon women and reinforced by variety of social constraints. She also suggests that rather than then being simple divide between lesbian and heterosexual women, our experience can be located along lesbian continuum.

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