Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence

Wow, you weren't kidding about how dense this article is.  I am going to try my best to define what the words Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence mean according to Adrienne Rich and myself.

Compulsory Heterosexuality:  According to the article, Rich states that the world Compulsory Heterosexuality encourages heterosexual feminists as a political institution which disempowers women. I am going to try and break down this word into two parts to more easily understand it.  The word "compulsory" means required or mandatory, and the word "heterosexuality" means sexual feeling or feelings directed towards a person or persons of the opposite sex.  When broken down, this word makes a lot more sense than the way Rich describes it in the article.

Lesbian Existence:  According to the article, Rich states that the word Lesbian Existence in many ways.  She states that "lesbianism" is an "alternative lifestyle."  She does state that this word is broken down just the way it is written, the existence of lesbianism in the world.  She compares the existence of lesbianism throughout the four different books that she states have four different political views and understanding of right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable.

I am going to add more to this blog after the discussion in class, I'm not fully understanding what this article is about...