All the Rage: Reasserting Radical Lesbian Feminism

by Lynne Harne, Elaine Miller (Editor)

Is sexuality political? Is it about identity? Is it about style or preference? These questions continue to be asked. Queer theory, sado-masochism, lesbian chic and lipstick lesbians were all the rage in the late 1980s popular culture. But these so-called glamorous trends were the superficial post-modern disguises of a patriarchal backlash against three decades of radical lesbian feminist advances. Unmasking and challenging the backlash the editors have gathered together seventeen passionate voices on sexuality, race and class, psychology, identity politics and lesbian existence. This anthology is essential reading in Women's Studies and anyone interested in gender critical theory. Contributors include, Julia Parnaby, Lynne Harne, Celia Kitzinger, Rachel Perkins, Sandra McNeill, Carol Reeves, Rachel Wingfield, Sue Wilkinson, Sheila Jeffreys, Elaine Miller, Elaine Hutton, Nicole Humberstone, Jill Radford, Rosemary Auchmuty, Audre Lorde, Janice Raymond, Julie Bindel.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Lesbian, Queer, Womens

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything.  Every single essay is absolutely amazing, impactful, insightful.  Discussing the problems with porn, kink, BDSM, queer theory, and many other problematic topics with early third-waved feminism.  Critique of identity politics, post-modernism, and queer theory galore is found in here.  This is probably one of the best compilations I've ever read, and not just because it's lesbian radical feminism--everything they say is something I've recently thought about today's "third" or "fourth" wave of feminism that people believe exist.  

And as empowering and fucking wonderful this book is, it's also heartbreaking to read this and realize that we're still having the exact same problems and exact same critiques today.  But, however heartbreaking it is, I feel so much more informed and ready to face what our society has to offer.  

This is a must-read if you're a feminist.  It will seriously change your life.

Review cross-listed here!

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked a lot, there is so few books on lesbian radical feminism and i really appreciate hearing other women’s perspectives in this, as well it talks a lot about the normalisation of kink in lesbian communities (which is something that disturbs me greatly) and how this is tied to women-hating culture. While i don’t exactly agree with every single opinion; I feel like that doesn’t take away from how good the theory in this is, definitely very thought provoking!

[sára pudu · Rating 5 out of 5]

it took me so long to finish i dont know why, just somewhere in the middle i got so lost .. anyway amazing amazing book, wish there was more chapters about lesbians bc the last few were just about radical feminism

[Tanya Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an anthology published in the late 90’s, several of its central tenants still ring true with core issues persisting in our society today.

As unfashionable as it is to do so, I found myself in agreement with a great deal of the points they put forward though I struggle to maintain their optimism for the future given their own hasn’t aged well judging from our current cultural climate. Considering I read it in it’s entirety in one sitting, it’s safe to say that this was an eye-opening read.

However, I do concede that I find their spot-on critique of traditional femininity to clash with certain anti-butch sentiments they push in some of these pieces which I found to be a bit odd. Additionally, for a collection by radical lesbian feminists, I found them to be far too critical of lesbian separatism than they should.

[Elise M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mixed bag, kind of depressing just how much the issues talked about in the 90s (the queer movement, identity politics, choice feminism, political lesbianism Vs born this way lesbianism, straight Vs gay women, etc etc) are still problems we are failing to deal with today.