9 Problematizing Pleasure: Radical Feminist Deconstruction of Sexuality and Power Celia Kitzinger From Ho Lesreime RealHkt on Herdeckes 5. Shem (Eds) QevurlGendr: Ssh Rlebine ery al Prin, Saye et Semualty is socially constructed ~ the phrase has become a traism jn some citces ‘with the increasing proliferation of ‘socal onstructonism’ literature. But, as Catherine MacKinnon (1987) points out, rely specifed is what, exactiy, sexuality iy socielly onstracted of: This chapter explores the nature of socially constructed sexuality, andthe role of power in that construction. T argue that power dots not simply prohibit certain sexual activities, and shape social represeattions ‘of sexuality. More. than thi, ‘Power is implicated io the ‘doing’ of sex, such that both heteroset and sex between two people ofthe same Bender is contracted oF ‘roticized power diferences ‘The Construction of Sexuality Sexual pleasure the cycle of arousal, desire and orgasm is often seen, in Wester society, as basic, ‘natural and preci Sextaiy is, in our postFreudin construction, atthe core ofthe individual, "rooted in ctldhood oral and oedipal antes, ‘expresive'of primitive iuman longings, revealing the ‘rue sei Stripped of the trappings of cviized” socal etiquette To the indurated Wesiera word, inividoals no longer find suppor, fstenance and meaning from the public symbols of iasaonal roles, but retrent instend ito. ‘private worlis of set. and ‘elationships for life-enhancing meanings. This was not alvays the cate: tociologists have liked this shift fom ‘soca’ to ‘privatized! selves with the demise of the concept of "honour asa cetral Principle in identity construction, and its replacement with ie concept of individual digi ‘Pee concept of oor imps that ieay seta, oat ast impertanty, Uaked to tational sols Ths anes Ssh at dinity by onret ples that ident fe esentaly Independent of instttona roles, To return to Fastal's imape, in 8 world of hover > Problematizing Pleasure 195 i nied esl ato nt ener he Sopa gre er al centr Me a of cee gt en a Sense as aera Mgt a nom ee es ac et re sea Rites parle Gee ae Sid bate oe are ty eh rt Sacer rier alana lone ‘The modern construction of sex, then, means that it has come to represent key aspects of indvidial fusetionog, 1 the Kinds of sexual things a person docs ae seen as reflecting {he kind of person he or she is, then sexual scivty is translated into sexual identity. Before the rise of scxology in the. Ite nineteenth and arly twentieth centuries, for example, romantic ftiendships between women were commonplace and did oot atiract ‘ny opprobrium. Many middleclass women ‘had elatonships with each other which included passionate declarations of love ‘ights spent in ted together sharing Kites and intimacies, and lelong devotion, without exciting the least adverse corament™ effi, 1985: 102). In North America it was stil posible, unt Inc asthe frst decade of the twentieth century, for passionate fakes of fove between women to be telated in periodicals lite Ladies’ Home Journal and Harpers totally “wihost se, ‘onseiousoess or awareness that sich relationships might be ‘considered unhealthy or taboo (Fadermnn, 1980: 298) On the rare ccasions when sex between women was discussed in) medical textbooks, it was presented as an extension of mastnrbation or a Studiows preparstion for marrage (Cook, 1979). Male indulgence of love between women ceased abruptly with the ftst wave of ‘Emini as the carly serolopists (Bloch, 190%; Forel, 190% Ei, 1934; KrafM-Ebing, 1882(1965) pathologized lesbianism. andlor orified heterosexuality for women. Sex between same-et partets ‘me constituted asa ‘master satus tat’ (Hughes, 1843); Wat Ini vas assumed that homoseruality was a powerfil characte tri tint to do homoserusl thiogs “required a ceriain kind of Prvchological history, and that this history, combined “with homosexual experience, was poverflly jateaial on the whole ange of person's “non-sexual actvtes. Sexual activity it (cenlaed into identity. To be more precise, homosexual activity is translated into hemasexual (or lexbian, gay etc.) identity. Heterosexual aeiity per seis’ generally seen as having no particular implications, for ‘entity, and most heterosexuals fad i extremely dient to talk196 Power|Gender about themselves ar feeroseruals (cf. Wilkinson and Kitinge, 1993), Like other privileged identiles (white, “Wester,” “able bodied’), ‘heterosexual’ is a silent term, a submerged and taken- foregranted aspect of the self, which is rarely consciously articulated, Few heterosexual women have ever before been forced to consider the kind of questions we raised in the ‘Call for Contributions’ for our Special Issue of Fertnim and Psycholony fon heterosexuality (Witkinson and Kitzinger, 1993): “What is hncterosenualty and why is it so common? Why is it so hard for Iheteroseruals to change their “sexual orientation"? What is the nature of heterosexual sex? How does heteroserual activity affect the whole of a woman's ie, her sense of herself her relationships with other women, and het politial engagements? Heteroserual women responded’ to these questions with suprise, and thelr answers were hesitant and uncertain, Most lesbians, by cont Ihave considered in depth the parallel questions relating {0 our own sexual experience and identity, and have wellrchearsed answers ready for the casual enquirers who so frequently interrogate usin this way. ‘In sum, theo, sexuality has been prioritized as reflecting fFondamental aspects ofthe ‘tru sland sexual activity is held {0 ‘have major identity implications for those who deviate from hheleroserual norms. The soci power serves to control and shape ‘our purportedly ‘basic’ sexual activity, by forcing us to confront ‘questions about who we ‘ealy” are onthe bess of what we do bed. Historically, the major psychological theores about people who do homosexual things ‘was that they vere pathologically Aisordered, suffering from sbsormal hormone levels, fatty prenting, traumatic carly experiences, oF psychological immature ity. Most contemporary psychological theories about people who 40 homosexual things are rooted in liberl humanist ideology (ct. Kitzinger, 1987). Such theories prescribe lesbian and male gay ‘dentities' which replace ‘sicknesy’ with ‘personel choice’, ‘sexual preference’, ‘alternative Hfetye” or “true love. Power does, not simply repress and deny same-sex sexual activities, I also actively constracts the form those activites take, and the identity implications they invoke, Leshian Representations of Sex Lesbian plessure is not constructed ina. heteropatiarchy-tree zone. There is nothing ‘pure’, ‘unellied™ or ihreatly revolutionary about the lesbian orgasm. Under heteropatrarehy, ‘system within which lesbian pleasures are speifcally crushed Problematizing Pleasure 197 sand denied, anything which gives us pleasure, oF from which we te able to ‘take pleasure (especially sexual please) can seem like a Good Thing ~ even, inherently revolutionary. Some feminists appear to be sugeesting that even the wse of Ieterosecual-maleauthored pornography for lesbian pleasure cen be subversive (Segal and’ Macintosh, 1992). But far from ‘subverting’ or “transgressing’ heteropatsarchal norms, lesbian ‘erotiea’ and pornography often reinsribes them, ‘The lesbian porn roagazine, Quim, for example, is heavily reliant on. the ‘rational pornographic paraphernalia of sadomasochism: whips, sain, studded bell, black leather boots, stiletto bec, corsets, [Naztsiyle caps, fits aad pierced nipples, Far ftom ‘tanseressing? rational representations, they reiscrbe them: the dominatrit, the bound woman on a rack, the huge (albeit detachable) dick In the London heterosexual’ club Night of the Living. Ultra ‘Visens, women dance provocatively in cages for male plessue: in the London lesbian elub Venus Rising, the women in cages dance for other women. All the trappings of sadomatochism are commonplace on the heterosexual scene among. middle-aged business" men (Cf. Sunday Express, 7 June 1992). Nor is the sllegedly ‘transgressive’ fascist symbolism beyond the bounds of social acceptability in today's represive right-wing climate. ‘Nazi Chi’ (Norman, 1992) is part of contemporary fashion: a Chelsea boutique decorates its carr bags with a Nasi double-headed ‘agi, framing Hider’s aphorism, ‘The strength of the country is in its youth’, and T-shirts are on sale in London with a rant svastiéa on one side, and the words "Keep Britain Tidy’ on the ster. Lesbian appropriation of the symbols of domination does ‘ot alter their oppressive meanings, but merely puts those ‘meanings at the sevice of a new group. Taking pleasure in sex seenes which enact power struggles, or which play with the symbols of fascism, may reeet the measure of our complicity in four own and other people's oppression (Lorde, 1987), (For a ‘more detailed discussion of the ethics and politics of lesbian ‘presentation of set, see Kitzinger and Kitzinger, 1993,) oterosexual Sex and Power ‘The intimate relationship between sex and power ie not limited to lesbian relationships, Indeed, it has been far better documented and analysed by feminists concerned about the role of male power in the practice of heteroserual sex, Rape, sexual harassment, the sexual abuse of girs, prostitution and pornography are acis of dominance expressed through sexuality. These forms of male198 Power|Gender seven vckoceaguast women are not rae, brant, or deviat ‘ehavionre Oniy 74 per cent of United Sater women are ot Seruaiy sscaultedor Brased in thr times (Rel, ced in FcKionon, 198766. Aboot «tid of men sey that they wood Tape women i sre that they wou not be pone (Bree nd Malamuth, 1983; Tiger, 1981) sod cach yer, a the United State, 0 per cent of al omen murdered tre klled by ther inhends or ale lovers aad at eat 1.8 mon women are besten tp hunbands or male Towers tonal (Uniform Crime, Report, Thar, ced in Capa, 1989). Men routinely ta vila apna thar lovers, and ae’ stxelty at 4 way of “ing power” over ‘More than this, ever sice Adrienne, Ric's groundbreaking ariel, ‘Compulsory teonervaty spd sbi exten” (980), fein thers are iceasigly exploring the violence done 10 ffomen tirengh tie enforcement of eteoreroay athe normal “Srul preference” of most women, Heteronoraly in and of fall ita enmerstone of mais power. “Only inthe stem of oppreson that is male supremacy Goes the oppresoracoally invade aod Colors the interior of the body of te opps, sys the Lends voluionary emit Group C961. 3) arguing, that the Tetcroseral couple the base wit of the plea! state of tale ropromacyOatywomen Pron sagt at bterosexealiy fr invitation crete, maitaived and enforced pon women i men, fr thir purposes one af whih fo oppress all omen, craryuere “Viewed from this perpecti, it is hardly suprising that many ‘woman die helical sek Pyelogy end seology have ‘aly copsrcted women's digo fr or fis of heleresxtal Intrevre ab problem: tho ext therapy indy is devoted to the cue’ of women who do aot enjoy Or do tet ave Orga dovng sex with men Ueto, 1985) ~ and the sheer nz of the indo suggest that tis 1h an enormowsy common problem Many women, whether or not they ently themes. tesa and wheter or ot they have been on the resvog tnd of overt mnie vcs, dere ie ro plese from sexual ceounters with men, In an ale aid ‘Love Hor, posed {na Brilch ational newspaper in 1989, a9 agonymeus women Geseibes how she dreaded ek with bet husband Sometime ei bed and thnk of al the women wb might be crying {ought Coping beens they know they'l have to "do tomorrow, (Syinebecaae they can ea int coming towards them, eying Bewone Inc inerunting thereon top of ther, crying becase thelr bodes area {hee Sen any more beste ty promised tem away twenty JST Problematizing Pleasure 199 go andi ou sem posible fo et thom back (Gurdon, Women’ ‘Page, 22 November 1989) = (Gurdon. Woes ‘The newspaper was immediately deluged with letters (two-thirds ‘mites enonymousy) from women who clearly identified with this Sites A marge gine consort ate ere, and commented: Mite en Most of tho who wrots seem fo find tx with thee hutbande saything slong the sale from boring to rpogtan, Genchng tht ‘eth of din ti ai flo palms th Gon tc ol hore proces». Many" speak of ‘hisheeds wile Feri and deta 7 oF Maio meh ‘him snlamos pcr of yf has een dtr’ wrote one woman. Another std, ‘After 21 years of marriage, these fetngs army fetings. I it were posi to slezp nearer the neny tdge of the bed T woula’. A third wrote of ber fear thet ‘one day T ‘may not be able to take it any more sod shall be forced to leave tay home and chilren simply because 1 want control over what tappens to my own body’ (ll in Guardian, 30 November 1989). ‘These women experience heterosexuality in preiay the manner ‘one would expect if one accepts radical leminit theories about the ‘intlonship between heterosexuality and. male’ power, Such theories offer insight into women's resistance of and’ disust for ‘eterosexuaity. When women submit to intercourse itis ofte, at Andrea Dworkin says, not for any intrinsic satisfactions it bres, but because: ” TNSTCAINY 8 tung tod we neo te eo it ruth (hi wy they espa poors in mons), We are poor than nen in ryeologialwe-ng Henne fru lee depends ‘appro ~ tequny expend thnuph sexual deste a hoe ena it nc oe We ne toy Inoue staqueay Fow we get i We dee Ue aporal ePe 28 fo sari fe out owe i iteroar sega how Se isi cr 10) According to this argument, in so far as women. submit. to leteroserual sex, they do so because they are forced (Enancially, Poscholopically, or with fist and gun) into submission. ‘We are lard into heterosexuality Becaure we are oppressed. Our appara ‘oasion in intimate relationships with our oppresors is @ measure Of our powerlessness. Feminists have used the same argument (0 ‘plain, for example, why battered women continue to live with ‘urn who abuse them — because they have no income of thei own, tonbere to go, because they have to take care of chikiren. Men over women into intolerable situations, and compel us to remain200. Power|Gender fn them simply through the wse of their own greater power. Any toegestion that women in these situations are making ‘ree choices ‘lfllyiguores the realities of power end oppresion. ‘important and politically useful as this argument i, there are problems when we apply it, ax Dworkin does, to explain women's Frvolvement ia sexual infeeourse. In. particlar, many women fonist thet they have volimtarlly chosen to engage in, sexial Intercourse, and that they enoy t, and have orgasms through it (0% a lest, in contexts which include it). When radial feminists argue that heterosexuality is an exercise of male power, that it is degrading end homliating for women, many women feel that their ‘ria personal experience is being negated. bell hooks claims that ‘attacking heterosexuality does itl to strengthen the sef-concept of the masses of women who desire tobe with men’ (1981, quoted fn 1984: 183) and argues that ‘many women choose to be Beteronral tee hey enjoy geal cotctwith individ ‘men’ (1984: 158) In response to the "poliial lesbianism’ paper (Leeds Revolutionary Feminist Group, 1981: 5, which argued hat ‘Serious feminists have no choice bot to examine heterosexuality’, several women wrote describing the pleasures of heterosexual sex Tam th only authority on what I am experiencing when T make Jove TA" Wien they coms dou they” ge that sort of whoosh ‘vdcwheiming Teeting coming up from ise, 50 that for while 708 {fovt know where you end ed your pertogr epin? The Lexds ‘tere ke romy soit rep, se to alt dinguih betwen rap Sod pessuable heteolovemaking. (Lote, 1981) (0, a more blunt response: ‘ike forking. Aren't women allowed to enjoy themselves?” (Attar et al, 1981)- The responses to the Teds Revolutionary Feminist Group paper made clear that ti ‘very dificult to persuade even polilcally conscious and actively Jnvolved feminists to give up sex with men, and a central part of the heterosexual couoterargument comes down to ‘but I lke it Hrterosevual sex is experienced by these women as enjoyable oF pleasurable. (Of course there sre many times when heterosexual sex is decidedly wrpleasant, but a radial feminist politics has also ': Geal with the fact that many women, at least some of the tims, fctvely desire, seek out and derive pleasure from heterosenual se. ‘Reading the radial feminist iterator until » few years ago, oot right be forgiven for believing that heterosexual sex is alvayi experienced by all women a8 violent and bruis, or at best clams) fand peniscentred, There is very ite indleation that any wort ‘might ever enjoy ity To. suppress (some) woroen's pleasure i Problematzing Peaswre 201 Setroseral sex, t fil to incorporate i ito out po : rat it into ur poll teary, Ato create an ‘open tere. ‘The danger is tat Where me fll them bose of exec, eve ope pac oes Conwnct theories we ay well Bad potaly unaceplaie Staley and Wise (198 ce, at an example ofan “open sere? {hat backed on Fein the eave of ted ome ree Workers in batered women's fags cw tht some won seat beck 1 ten who ftteed them een hough seas ere ‘ade available, but conned to preet an ‘approve’ mage of ihe battered "woman ar victin of poten but mvtaral feamstaces, I the absence of rad fomiit teorog Era ey (DMD) fled the gap with & theory purporting to epls eee “cmpline fie hat ty af oun et feminist. Simtary, weal know apparel scleconfdsn Senncly solvent tds women who, coud, prape choos, as many liens oe chovn net fr mor dia faa 0 ese exw men. Yet hey conn to ate itroure with men and sy thy enjoy it Why! Tle pow ceaceptaled only at extra cession and explict Prolog Pesnre, thn wea a soto aver ts queion A eect {dentnaing of the operon of male power lems al txperene ines. roiiing Powerlesoese Jn acknowledging female seal petue in eteroneal st, we Shr to see male power as prod, Power does ot snp deny tod repress wome’sseanlyy It aso ately. contac hee iin, 1987, 1991). Power aot simpy fcr ich acts So indo women from the uti to conta sad pont ie imately involved inthe way a woman experince herve it peronal sexaliy. Heeropatnacal power pemote vats aod aurre Rterosnil“plesue’ N's, ae vos ony Tesbian Teint She Jeffye 1950 args, 8 Srows problem that despite the condens of womers oppeton — Lo i orezems in heterosexual sex. ° realy, raed! emit thor hve tegun to explore the eyo tones de rtd arabe nee (1980), Andiea Dworkin (1987) and Cubes MicKinnon (1987) have all prodoced snares Hees ena dese, says Sha Teese 4s desire tat exotics power diferenes. 1 tiiates inthe pow ‘iaonships between We fexer abd" normaly akc the fo st202 Power/Gender roteing the sebordioaion of women. In heteroseral desire out fubordinstion Becomes sexy for uw and Tor een. (1980: 206) According to Andrea Dworkin, woman ‘ears to eroticize ‘MacKinnon responds to the question of how women come to waat that which is not ia our own interests by saying that ‘sexual desire in women, atleast inthis culture, is socially constructed a that ‘which we come to want our own slfannihlation” (1987: 70). Thi answer addreses the issue of ‘pleasure’ in heterosexual sex, acknowledges women's experince, and then problematzes it The legacy of sexual Iiberationist Ideology menos that, for many feminists, anything which gives pleasure is justifiable. To suggest that sexual pleasure might not always be good fics inthe face of called sexual Iiberation, which offered pleasure asa moral “whatever is sight is what turns you om. But some lesbian nd feminist theorists are now advancing an ethical position which problematizes pleasure when itis contingent upon oppression For feminists for whom ‘the personal is poltal, sexval pleasure must necessarily be problematized. A feminist colleague fold me recently how attractive she found a male professor. When objected that he was extremely sexist she responded, “but sexism in men isso sexy’. Despite her feminist analysis, the men who turn her on are (I quote he) ‘strong silent powerful types ~ mea who don’t pander to feminism’. Some ‘aatisexist” men have described feeling hurt and baffled when women see them as ‘wimps? and 0 not find them sexually attractive: their analysis of the situation i that women ‘prefer’ are sexually attracted to) macho men (Cf. Hunter's (1993) analysis of a ‘ssy man’). Read any ook eserbing women’s sexual fantasiet, and you will Bnd many ‘devoted to sexual activities rooted in the eroticing of power- lesmess. The chapter headings of Nancy Friday's (1973) book include: ‘Pain and masochist: Ouch, don't stop’; “Rape: Don't just stand there, force me; "Domination, or how humibting, thank you"; and “The sexuality of terror. These are. sexual Tantascs women use during masturbation or sexual activities with thers. to. give them pleasure — fantasies of bestiality, rape, sivity, being looked at, tied up, beaten. As Sheila Jeffreys has . "If your oppression turns you on you have = much harder time fighting your oppression’ (1990: 75. Many heterosexual feminists express politial eoncerat about their own erotic responses. In such circumstances itis not the lack of pleasure in sex which isthe problem, but rather the nature of Sexual pleasuce Hell, Heterosexual feminists Ros Gill and Rebecca Problematizing Pleasure 203 Walker (995) decrbo wiat they cil thee “deeply ansoand Fates in which ‘en “oesp toon, wep so et “tong tans sto" aad of ena, nde wf "We fre thes en they sy, though the dcr of paar remenss 2 enn A th ny tt ne te a ht dat bot mn tie dacs go aay testa ein plompee Sendra Lee Bary deers atincon to power es Tbegnn tose that I was attracted ony to certain kinds of men - men who were older than I, who wer somewhat aogtnt tod cccsomly {yrmonical, men to whom T acded Yo asib, wether they realy had ‘them oF not uss of talent snd fnelignece ar super tomy on ‘Continties began to sugset themssnes betwee thee tea nd ie heroes of fim apd don that had most excied me in adolescent ths arrogant and suraste Rochester of ane Eye the eta aad imelncholy Mix ‘do Winter of Rltecey” te’ cold. and hash combination guardian and plano-owch of The Seventh Vel and, of foure, Rhett Bulle. (Barty, 1593) ‘Nice guys, ‘new men’ are apparently not attractive to. many beteroserual women, ‘The ‘problem’ according to this analysis, is not how few ogesms, how lit pleasure women derive from helerosexal st = but how many and how much. Instead of arguing about whether or not, and to what extent, women enjoy heterosental sex and how to make it more enjoyable ~ these feminists recognize that ‘many women do enjoy heterosexual sex, and that it Is precisely this pleasure in heterosexual sex that is the problem Instead of exploring why itis that some women do not enjoy heterosexual Set, proclaiming their “right” to pleasure, and. demanding. sex therapies and male education to ensure i, these theoists ask how itis possible, given the conditions of female subordination, that some, women do enjoy heterosexual sex, and what costs ate ‘ssociated with that, In response to the ‘poitcal lesbian’ paper, some women who no longer have heterosexual sox deseribed their own pleasure ia it ae rooted in the erotcizing of powerlessness. In letter headed ‘Why 1 iked screwing? Or, is heteroserual enjoyment based on serval violees?” one Woman sys: When 1 was 51 played doctors sod patients with my ie gl ens The male doctor, played ty the eet pi made” Ua ret of os tke our ficken off and tend dow while shorted bs At BT plage # ey il; desed only in ski | TatnsedsamcesYorors erst ‘nite by seine ford of the manor A end aged? fantsined bee at ort Ste nthe Mist Pic; ned od ened wih ng ie204 Power|Gender In 1969 aged 22 read “The Story of "and my horor and disgust vas deepened by the thea uogpkenforsmanyyeas, ula gully Tealtion tht reading of O's total dapracition was to me = thon, stages fom the Book came unbidden to my mind. when my boyftiend peotrated me aod however fast I baited them they worked AT dd exoy it more Never did T pea of his, crea when women ia sexuaty CR groups revelad the Ove baled thusocise fantasies and drat ~ how ia ter to come tey tad to tink ofthe orn fn the rocoto nsbed wt them inthe woods when tay mere 15; how images of rps, ‘eateg, Bondage came to the mids when masturbating =.» Our ‘sexually bas Ine Constructed by muledomisted soc. (one, 1985 50) (Changing Sexuality Changing our sexualities is not ensy. We lve in a culture in which sex is defied in terme of dominance and submission, We know we fare having ‘sex’ and deriving ‘sexual pleasure’ when we act out the relationship between power and powerlesness, oppressor and oppressed. Lesbian sexuality is not immune. Recalling her past involvement in butch/femme roles, Jlin Peoelope describes her sexuality as a "bute: Jost as based my own sas of power on making lve to other wien, {peeved the willagoas to let ne make lve to them a ving UP cf power, When they yielded tome, surrendered hemes 1 ie ‘nationtcty, mde themiives“aierbl’ to me 1 became powerful tras absorbed bythe anpatory thls ofthe chase and my sexual ‘mas dependent on the sexual charge I expsienced when T made a new “Tengu (quoted in Hoagand, oth: 67) ‘Theres revival of butch/femme roles amongst lesbians today ~ s0 much for ou ideals of egalitarian relationships. Sadomasochism, too, is being promoted by some lesbians ~ the deliberate erotczing ‘of power diferences, Lesbians have not escaped from male-defined sexuality ~ although we heve besa reluctant fo admit this. A recent iseussion of lesbian battering describes how women already socialized to be passive and sabmissive take the role with another ‘woman, and how reluctant other lesbians are to see the intrusion of power into lesbian relationships ~ the anger at lesbian survivors of battering for breaking the silence that supports onr dreams and visions of a united, non-violent, celebratory lesbian comnanity (Lobel, 1986). Similarly, some of the anger directed epsint those ‘who speak out against lesbian sado/mascchist, or buteh/femme | roles, seems to come from this desperate hope that, as lesbians, we fan escape from the destructive patteros of malédefined sexual | Problematizng Pleasure 205 tes thse who point ost thet we have not doe so ae the rer of uneeicome now Ursbian poychologsts and psychotherapists are often in the business of promod exl behaviour amongst lesbians bated on dominance snd submision ~ and in puta, sdemasochie Lesbians come to them with ibe ‘proben’ tant tit set Hee aot very exciog any-more (Oey ate having “vila ex), OF Sezause they have stopped having sex with eachother allogeer plesomenon common in log-erm lesbian selatonstps Jered 4 JoAnn Luin (1986) at “eaian bed death fo onder surest serial detie, many lesbian prychologe expt ‘commend sexe pracices built around ero pow abd Downes This the enals presented by Maree Nichols Of the Boson Lesbian Prchologes Collie Sonu iis requires a tari: some Kind of tease taboo, 4 erence of some ort a poner darepancy, roma te ectowet of'pommes of te lf he che we fons of eyalionee ‘Tae typinds bas some important impleatns To eins risostipe Fit It haps to expan wiyout oman i roticn. Gr romance fan ‘be sen txt ye of bayer cee ‘Stal xsi at we we ronal beau I sal {xen tobe o, Toe problen WG tis appear to be he ay Scope forma telon baer we ba Tor eng sel Sacer. Cee nl expand ot repre so at tee te more teisons or bares available to fcitate venta Sie To fnd'rch ys of ntodig ew bare we cen Tk tour any ‘te By cps hymn! nh fer tory tod ope THo0ph cates Ugh SI hee ‘atin treo tween prac) by delopay sea Sa ‘Tih our param, by inocicag tac int axe noon ae yb abe to Bad ier bates at enhance sexta onee iatane goer, Cushy 198 Ihe) jonships between ‘Wo women are not, by necessity, unequal, in the way that a man ‘tnd a woman are. Teaching sadomasochstc practice to lesbians is ‘pparently success in restoring serval pleasure and sexual desire Many lesbians have been eritcal ofthis tact: Sonos st inns eon of done) Shotinaralonpa And’ We popes seer aoe {Blrcanto’ of to enforce dominane Een opto ara ot {Section of te power ove te pow ere copeeetan {oe the empiotl nage forthe cotaunon of Folly oc and economia (ud TT206 Power/Gender In response to implied criticism of her portion on the grounds that sadomascchism is rooted in women's oppression, Margaret Nichols responds: "We fear that at thir point in our cultre, 30 ‘much of female sexuality may be contaminated by heterosexism and patiarchal oppression that if we reject aspects of our Sexuality upon this basis we will have Fille TeR” (1987: 106~ Feminists who are passionate in our rejection of heterosexism and patriarchal oppression are offered a choice: sex or freedom? Such '8 the power of sexual Hberationist ideology, that to choose freedom means being labelled with a clinical diagnosis of “erotophobia Te seems that the problem is aot just the abuse of male power through sexual violence (rape, sexval arasament, pornography and child sexual abuse), nor i the problem of male power mted to the institution of heterosexual intercourse, The problem is the construction of sexual. Sex is constrcted, sexoal desire is constructed, as the eroticization of subordination. Heterosexual sex Involves “male power and female subordination (sometimes apparently reversed as a ‘game’), Homoserual male sox frequently involves the erotckation of differences like age, race, class end explicit S&M. And in lesbian sex, butc/femme roles, sadomaso- chism, and, when equality threatens, the deliberate introduction of Power diferences to sustain our Gagging sexualities. ‘The language we use around sexuality i riddled with images of dominance and subordination. The word ‘passion’ comes from the same root a5 ‘pase; we are ‘overcome’, ‘overwhelmed’, or “overpowered” by desire, we ‘submit to a loved one’ who” has ‘captured’ our heart. Violence and sex are explicitly linked; in women's and men's fantasy, in reel beteroenual, gay and lesbian relationships. The comparison of the penis to an instrument of domination, a gun, is commonplace; for example, in the Beatie Song, at the height of the ‘sexual iberation’, “Happiness fsa warm run’, Pornography perhaps mort graphically deplays this pervasive association between sex and violence, sex and power, Pornographic images of women reinforce and reiterate the erotizing of powerlemess ~ with women bound and gagged, ‘mutilated, murdered, staffed head frst through mest grinders. A series of photos with test in Chie magazie ix headed ‘Columbine cuts up’. Here Columbine i shown stabbing herself inthe vagina ith a large butcher's Knife and euttng he labia with sissors, She is smeared with blood and on ber face is a Sxed smile. In & purported interview, Chic has Columbine say, “I would. much rather masturbate with a knife than a dildo. 1 guess because Te always had an inferosty complex and T thik of myself et Froblematizing Pleasure 201 (ieerving to be stabbed and ils" (quoted in Caplan, 1987, Feminists have sometimes denied that women ate masochistic 1 the fear that if we say we do in fact derive pleasure hon sgcn ‘mages, oF from humiliating sexual practices, men wl see thi justifeation for continuing “such” praciets "to. acknowioe women's masochism is seen at too dangerous, an adoneseee Only if we problematize pleasure, and insist that its moray axbiter of morality, can we both acknowledge that women hens Matochitc sexual fantasies, and seek to change that Radical feminist deconstruction of ser" and. “power? tives, our sexualities. Sex, as it has been comment % a8 it has. been constructed under teteropatiaehy, sem nesesarily 10 involve the erotczing ot power and poweresmness, dominance and subordination: that hat makes it erotic. Equality does not have this danger of Intoxiation or derangement or obsenion” (Dworkin, 1985 I) a itis not explicily sadomasochistic in the sense that more a Sacto, ns of cot snc of be he EE roomy To The ee oe Fa OF efor many Depew ween Ta aes ESE how icy cae hate ne wee ee a Hes Ahterces “heed sal a 1 a me onnnes ad mb syn ae yeh ‘sony ‘be ecvoatng Ge soa canes er ie wh scat eed ea cmos Syn sold be having bat owe cunt ‘Political change. ™ Notes solar ie to hank Shes Jy fr Bering wing, and fr TESTE rete pen a in ‘it gee was wien wie T min the Deparment of Pcholoy at the References ‘as, Dee, une Peay aed Mees, Jn (981) ‘A ey fom Yok Seromin Prt (fave Yor Buy? The Desa ee mee Foi nd Peta! Linon Laon Ontrwans oe oe en208 Power/Gender uty, Sx. (99) “ypu wove, i Se Wain and Cal King (i), “Hetwercly: a Peicon a Pychaiagy Rend London Spe Bere, PL. Ber, Bn Ree, H, (97) The Hamels Min oecatin oth, 1 (190 The Sema Lf of Ow Tne. Lolo: Heenan, ‘rer, dehn aod! Malnmuth Nel (1985) “Seepoced theo’ of sesaly rane behavior tual wes eel eplanaion, Joa of Resch Capln, Pala (367) Te Meh of Wome Arascm. New York: See {apt ane (198) The se pois af mare Gonder and Sct 7-58. ‘Gout eany (5) eter ete Outen Pe (a), Love Far Bay The DebreSearn Het Feo and Poll Leni, Lowion Gripwonen Pree. Ie ‘Cok, Bice (1979) "The ea elf tne, Raal Mery Reve, om os rota, Andes (987) Ieee. Loon: Aro Boks Bll Havelock (830) Ply of Sex Lender: Heenan, Fadermtn, ills (1380) Surpaing the Lowe 9 Mew Romane Pedipe ond ‘Love etvacr Wome fa the Rincon to the Pee Londen econ For Alert (1908) The Sen Oust: a Simi, cole, Hye and ‘Sec! Sid (ans. CP. Marl). New Yok: Pasir a0 Surat ook Co iy, Natey (17) My Secret Gard, New York: Ancer/Doabledn. CG, os aod Wate, Reese (91) Yield: tang yong, wh, terse fine nthe ir, Se Winn sed Cait Kiting (es erases: « Fenisim sod Pehle” Reade owton: Se Hoagland, Sr Lai (98) Lenin Bhi: Tend How Val, Plo Ao Ce Terie af Labia Sat oak, bl (8 Ant Fam. Bote, Mast; Sut) End Pres SS Pt They Pe hg» Coe: ons, Ma eth opie, E (1945) ‘Daeamas and contiton of sat Amen Jour of ‘Hane, le (1983) ‘Same dee, direst ct ero sy’ ong Tri ln Ste Wikia ad Cala Kine el, Hetosrai « emin tnd Piety Reade Lando: Se sete, She (185) Te Spt andr emi. Laon: Pando Sete, Sh (950) Anno emt orp oh Sol Reson {Lion The Women's re Joes, Satine (185 Why ed een? Or Meese enjoyment tue ‘eral lec, in Dusty Rhodes aod Sand MN (Wan dla Pinece Agia Women. Lend: Osetra Pres FSi ‘ing. Cala (9) Ti Soil Comtneton af Ls. Londo: Sat ‘icin. Ce (1891) "emi, polo andthe parse of power, Fein ind Poel a natal Fora 1) MI. ising, ea and Kings, Cala (993) "Dea eprentions fei ‘ee la Gabe Grin), Outre: Por ashion Te, Lon Problematiing Pleasure 209 ram Bhig, R OBEIGS) och Seat (res. NLE Wel) Now “de Reader Faint Geo (181) lta the exe est ‘cienalty, la Onlywonen Prat (ety Lowe Tor Bert Tie a fewenHeteal Fon ot Pel Lene tec ye Prem sia, = eh 11 (98) Nonng the Mle: Speng Outset Letion Ven ‘Wain: Sal Pra “ “eet Os on a arn Rk ath Un, to, Dw ES, Rul en Sune Lap Sa ye Sedat Radel Fett dna Bast Pale hts Pet ae 1g a et en i sean is twa a ante (ay meme ST ep tet ee we aes ay Min a ere ry, eae (Gina: Univesity of line Pens pp 911s Gaon igi aawmen ea, Serra i ee ag Se Lyn tnd Machtny Mary fe) (00 ex Espo, Lande: Vino, Suny, ‘it sod ‘Wie, Sw (90) Drain One Fonte Conckecee ond ‘tat ove in: Rote Eps Pr ‘Tage Tabd (OR) ‘Sera ened ofp a scl ection of mp al of Reach Poi. Wis oe ed Ks, Cee) (95) arena: ¢ Fein a "aeolgy Re: Lantos aps