Same-Sex and Lesbian Existence

When reading "Toward a Global History of Same-Sex Sexuality" by Leila Rupp, it got me thinking about the difference between then and now. There seems to be much evidence of same sex relations that have not been determined to be sexual acts or not. The reading seemed to imply that just because you have a relationship with the same sex it doesn't mean anything. People used it as religious purposes, or defining manhood, or even for pleasure. They never considered it sex because a penis was not involved. I wonder, what if we thought of it that way? Maybe not in such terms but in the irrelevancy of same sex relations. I mean it in a way that it shouldn't matter who your with and you shouldn't judge people on their relationships. If we were less considered about who was with who, there might be more peace among people. People in the 19th century respected people who could have multiple relations with same sex and because it showed class and respect. Gender was never an issue until now. Why are people so concerned with who is sleeping with who or who is gay or not? It shouldn't be the question that comes to mind. It should be more like, is the person happy with that person?

Adrienne Rich's article "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" explores violence of men against women in physical acts such as rape. I think as a society we should be more concerned with that question of Why, then of homosexuality. Rich says "it becomes an inescapable question whether the issue feminists have to address is not simple 'gender inequality' nor the domination of culture by males nor mere 'taboos against homosexuality', but the enforcement of heterosexuality for women as a means of assuring male right of physical, economic and emotional access"( 26). Men are trying to control the situation, because more women are coming out as lesbians and therefore men are losing the power and control of a relationship. They cannot partake in a women and women relationship. You think they would be satisfied with what they have or man with man, but they are not. You wonder why more women prefer other women, because men are soo controlling!! Regardless of that not really being true it sure would be a great reason.