What Is She Like?: Lesbian Identities from 1950s to 1990s

by Rosa Ainley

In What Is She Like? Rosa Ainley looks in depth at how lesbians see themselves and at the questions of identity that have always defined and divided the lesbian community. Covering the period from the 1950s, with its repressive influence on sexuality in general, through so-called sexual liberation in the 1960s, to the freedoms and limitations of (lesbian) feminism in the 1970s, she brings exciting and illuminating perspectives to bear on lesbian lives in the 1990s, when lipstick lesbians are the darlings of the mainstream media.
In a series of fascinating interviews interspersed with the text, over twenty women, of varying ages, races and backgrounds, talk frankly about their lives and lifestyles as lesbians, focusing on their own identity in terms of politics, leisure pursuits, fashion and affiliations.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

what i think is great about gay oral history / interview projects is how quickly it gives a lie to the idea that there is one coherent correct history to be carried on - particularly in how basically everyone including me loves to gesture at an imagined history to say, you can't use that word like that, or whatever-- when evidently like, there have always been self-identified lesbians fucking men and other lesbians saying that's just not lesbian behavior sarah! and still other lesbians saying Well sappho fucked that male youth and other lesbians saying okay she wasn't a lesbian and how old was that youth anyway and presumably way back when there were also dykey greeks going "sappho this is so embarrassing oh my god" and they were all my wife

anyway just because something has happened before doesn't mean it's good nor that it needs protection nor to last forever;—as i'm always saying, egg the mona lisa—but it's wonderful to know about. the only basically real thing is vibes, and you know what vibes, are these interviews. i had a splendid gossipy time. i'd like to shout out in particular "ELLYOT DRAGON IS MY PSEUDONYM," age 27, who noted "i think dykes are stupid, they buy anything because it's dyke. i used to be like that: you're young" as well as "LOU MARSHALL (NOT HER REAL NAME) HATES WORKING AND LOVES GOING OUT." read to learn what these people and many more thought about assorted gay footwear and bars and politicking and fucking etc !