This article asks whether it is presumptuous for afeminist writer to create characters quite different from herself. Using the particular example of heterosexual novelists' representations of lesbians, it argues that such presumption-although fraught with difficulties-is essential to feminist truth-telling.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Arnold, June
(1975) Sister Gin. New York: Daughters Inc.
2.
Bell, Shannon
(1993a) `Finding the Male Within and Taking him Cruising: Drag-King-For-A-Day', in The Last Sex: Feminism and Outlaw Bodies. New York: St Martin's Press: 91-97.
3.
Bell, Shannon
(1993b) `Kate Bornstein: A Transgender Transexual Postmodern Tiresias', The Last Sex: Feminism and Outlaw Bodies. New York: St Martin's Press: 104-120.
4.
Brady, Maureen
(1982) Folly. New York: The Crossing Press.
5.
Brady, Maureen
(1983) `Article on the writing of Follv', Thirteenth Moon (Special Issue on Working-Class Experience).
6.
Fairbairns, Zoe
(1979) Benefits. London: Virago.
7.
French, Marilyn
(1977) The Women's Room. New York: Summit.
8.
Gomez, Jewelle
(1988) `Imagine a Lesbian, A Black Lesbian', Trivia, Spring.
9.
Harris, Bertha
(1983) `Review of Folly by Maureen Brady', Thirteenth Moon (Special Issue on Working-Class Experience).
10.
Livia, Anna
(1982) Relativelv Norma. London: Onlywomen Press.
11.
Livia, Anna
(1985) Accommodation Offered. London: Onlywomen Press.
12.
Livia, Anna
(1988) Bulldozer Rising. London: Onlywomen Press.
13.
Munro, Alice
(1991) `Dulse', in The Moons of Jupiter. New York: Random House (orig. pub. 1977).
14.
Naylor, Gloria
(1983) The Women of Brewster Place. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin (orig. pub. 1980).
15.
Oates, Joyce Carol
(1985) Solstice. New York: EP Dutton.
16.
Paley, Grace
(1986) `Listening', in Later the Same Day. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin (orig. pub. 1985).
17.
Reubens, Bernice
(1981) Birds of Passage. London: Hamish Hamilton.
