Lesbian

by Ruthann Robson

Book by Robson, Ruthann

Genres: Nonfiction, Lesbian

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1992

About the author

Ruthann Robson is Professor of Law & University Distinguished Professor. She is the author of Dressing Constitutionally: Hierarchy, Sexuality, and Democracy (2013), as well as the books Sappho Goes to Law School (1998); Gay Men, Lesbians, and the Law (1996); and Lesbian (Out)Law: Survival Under the Rule of Law (1992), and the editor of the three volume set, International Library of Essays in Sexuality & Law (2011). She is a frequent commentator on constitutional and sexuality issues and the co-editor of the Constitutional Law Professors Blog. She is one of the 26 professors selected for inclusion in What the Best Law Teachers Do (Harvard University Press, 2013).

Reviews

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this after I saw her piece about it in issue 42 of sinister wisdom and I appreciated it a lot more bc of the context she included in it, I wish at least some of it was included here in an intro or something! She wrote this before anyone else had tried to develop a specifically lesbian view of the law! Lots of really cool points and info on the legal history of lesbianism that were totally new to me even though this was published in 1992. She’s big into her ideals but also very practical. Like a lot of lesfem work it feels like this book opens a super important line of thinking that’s still super relevant and deserves further attention

[Lydia Greenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated and a bit technical for those of us who aren't in the field of law. It does, however, provide an interesting lens with which to read the book -- one which puts lesbians front and center. It is refreshing to read a work which allows us our own space instead of tacking us on as an afterthought. It also manages to be surprisingly intersectional and aware of race, class, and disability when discussing lesbian issues.

[6655321 · Rating 2 out of 5]

extremely dated, the history section on the erasure of women's punishment for sexual deviance is the best chapter (and draws heavily from other historians), he position that (lesbians in particular, people in general) can use and be used by the law feels non-committal in dealing with legal issues because everytime she brings up a good point *against* the rule of law she immediately points out "well the law can do this *positive thing*." If you do legal theory and GLBT/Queer Studies this is worth a read although its pre-Lawrence v. Texas so there is that issue...

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reads like something that would be assigned for one of my legal theories classes--but better.

It's every question I wanted to ask in class but couldn't manage to get my hand up.

It's not a set of answers--it never pretends to be. But it is a start. A very good start. Took me forever to read because I kept on pausing to research the cases and concepts she was talking about.

I found this at a used book sale and wish it were more widely available.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite book on queer politics and the law. Still feels very current, even several decades later.