Observations on the Article "Not for Lesbians Only" by Charlotte Bunch
The article "Not for Lesbians Only", an expanded, revised speech Charlotte Bunch delivered in 1975 at the Socialist-Feminist Conference at Antioch College, was eye-opening, especially if one is not lesbian and has never had to deal with the discrimination lesbians face, such as lack of medical insurance coverage, survivorship, or property benefits married heterosexual couples have, issues surrounding children, and myriad things non-lesbian feminists are not always sensitive to. Bunch starts with a comment about being listed, in the conference program, as Charlotte Bunch-Weeks, "a rather ominous slip-of-the tongue" p. 252). She explains that her feminism, as a married heterosexual woman, was different than it is now, as an unmarried lesbian woman: Five years ago, when I was Charlotte Bunch-Weeks, and straight, and married to a man, I was also a socialist feminist . . . when I left the man and the marriage, I left the b . . . socialist feminist movement . . . my politics then, as now, joined with the way I lived my per
Personally, since I am not a lesbian, I do not have much insight into what it is like. I also understand why Bunch's "take" on heterosexuality among feminists could possibly alienate some straight women. My reaction to her critique of "women remaining tied to men" made me feel defensive. My husband (who is not a sexist, since I would never marry one of those, and who has always encouraged my independence, autonomy, and career, even when I doubted myself) seems to be being described as "the enemy" just because he is male. I find that unfair, even as I try to sympathize with a lesbian perspective. She does make a good point when she says "heterosexuality is basic to oppression in the workplace" (Bunch). I have experienced that as much as any woman, gay, straight, or whatever. I did find this article thought-provoking. I have gay and lesbian friends at school and work, and Bunch describes many of their struggles and their loneliness at not quite "fitting in". Some lesbians who won't even bring their significant other to a nigh
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Approximate Word count = 707
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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