Between Men - Between Women: Lesbian & Gay Studies Series

Lesbian Choices

Published 1 November 1994

Feminist philosopher Claudia Card explores with this work the complex ethical and political questions lesbians face regarding their identities and their relationships both within and outside of lesbian communities. In part 1, the author looks at lesbian cultures and traditions, and develops a genealogy of amazons, sapphists, and passionate friends. An ensuing chapter asks whether lesbianism is a "choice", and if so, what this really means and what is at stake in looking at it this way. In part 2, Professor Card discusses lesbian friendship in relation to sexuality, and presents as the greatest challenges to lesbian ethics the battering and stalking of lesbians by lesbians. She also discusses the burdens carried by childhood victims of female-perpetrated incest. She then evaluates homophobia, the ethics of outing, the military ban, and lesbian sadomasochism.