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Sappho Was a Right-On Woman: A Liberated View of Lesbianism
The book you are holding is making history.
A radical change in a little-understood part of society has made this book possible. It is a change that is forcing people to reevaluate their attitudes and see the Lesbian in a new light.
Very little has been written about Lesbianism. What has appeared in book for has been written by men. This is the first account written by women--by Lesbians--about themselves and their struggle.
For Lesbians, as for most women today, the present is experience as a collision between the past and future. The first part of Sappho Was a Right-on Woman, "What It Was Like," deals with the past: the guilt, the shame, the duplicity, that are part of living in a society that condemns Lesbians--when it cannot ignore them. Temporary sanctuaries (bars, gay ghettos, vacation spots) and "bizarre" behavior are part of the past for some Lesbians, and still very much part of the present for many.
The second part of the book, "Living the Future," reflects profound change taking place within society, the women's movement, and most important, within Lesbians themselves--change that make it possible for them to stop making unnecessary apologies and start function as whole people. Defying the present is still not easy, the authors say, but it is infinitely preferable to the self-degradation society has gone to such pains to teach the Lesbian.
Sappho Was a Right-on Woman speaks clearly, honestly, openly, to those women and men, homosexual and heterosexual, oppressing and oppressed, who are still living in the past. It invites them to "come out"--out of their closets, out of their unexamined prejudice and unresolved confusion--and live into the future with "an appreciation of both the differences and the common humanity" necessary for constructive change.
A radical change in a little-understood part of society has made this book possible. It is a change that is forcing people to reevaluate their attitudes and see the Lesbian in a new light.
Very little has been written about Lesbianism. What has appeared in book for has been written by men. This is the first account written by women--by Lesbians--about themselves and their struggle.
For Lesbians, as for most women today, the present is experience as a collision between the past and future. The first part of Sappho Was a Right-on Woman, "What It Was Like," deals with the past: the guilt, the shame, the duplicity, that are part of living in a society that condemns Lesbians--when it cannot ignore them. Temporary sanctuaries (bars, gay ghettos, vacation spots) and "bizarre" behavior are part of the past for some Lesbians, and still very much part of the present for many.
The second part of the book, "Living the Future," reflects profound change taking place within society, the women's movement, and most important, within Lesbians themselves--change that make it possible for them to stop making unnecessary apologies and start function as whole people. Defying the present is still not easy, the authors say, but it is infinitely preferable to the self-degradation society has gone to such pains to teach the Lesbian.
Sappho Was a Right-on Woman speaks clearly, honestly, openly, to those women and men, homosexual and heterosexual, oppressing and oppressed, who are still living in the past. It invites them to "come out"--out of their closets, out of their unexamined prejudice and unresolved confusion--and live into the future with "an appreciation of both the differences and the common humanity" necessary for constructive change.
251 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 14, 2016
I loved this book! I loved reading about the major role lesbians played in the feminist movement. It was funny to read in the introduction that they thought the second part of the book might be too optimistic and lighthearted compared to the first describing the history, because I think they would be amazed by the strides feminism and gay rights have taken! (I wrote that sentence before the Nov 8 election, but I still think the general statement holds true.)
My only complaint was that I hated reading so many stupid references to Freud. I get that it was published in the 80's, but I'm really amazed any women who felt so strongly about feminism were willing to get behind a man who thought "penis envy" was a plausible affliction.
I tore through Part One in one night and Part Two in another. I wanted to give a copy to every woman and man in my life. I felt like so many aspects of my own life were contextualized and brought into focus through learning about history, which is not something I often get to feel as a woman! I wish these things were taught in schools and that girls everywhere could grow up knowing how much of what they have, had to be fought for and how much there is still to gain. It was a truly awesome read and I recommend it to all feminists and allies!
My only complaint was that I hated reading so many stupid references to Freud. I get that it was published in the 80's, but I'm really amazed any women who felt so strongly about feminism were willing to get behind a man who thought "penis envy" was a plausible affliction.
I tore through Part One in one night and Part Two in another. I wanted to give a copy to every woman and man in my life. I felt like so many aspects of my own life were contextualized and brought into focus through learning about history, which is not something I often get to feel as a woman! I wish these things were taught in schools and that girls everywhere could grow up knowing how much of what they have, had to be fought for and how much there is still to gain. It was a truly awesome read and I recommend it to all feminists and allies!
July 14, 2018
Unsurprisingly, parts of the book were outdated and, at times, offensive, but overall this was still a really interesting, and really hopeful look at Lesbian life and liberation in the early 70s. However, it’s sad to see that many of the issues that the women were struggling with in the book (both intra-community and with the world at large) are still issues today.
June 25, 2020
I don't know why I have this weird obsession with reading second wave feminist texts, I guess I just find them kind of funny. But anyway, this wasn't as atrociously outdated as I was expecting! I really enjoyed the first few chapters but it did get a bit old. It does get bonus points for some really YIKES moments (e.g. the insinuation that women are incapable of rape) but hey, what did I expect.
February 18, 2024
ihan läppä
March 6, 2012
This little volume by Abbott and Love is a great manifesto and history lesson -- the first half is devoted to the recent history of Lesbians (as the book capitalizes them) and their struggle, while the second looks more towards the future. Particularly interesting as an analysis of the intersection of Women's Lib and Gay Lib. Not a light, fun read, but if nothing else it can make you thank your lucky stars to be living now in these relatively more liberated times.
November 4, 2008
From 1972! Interesting to compare this to more modern literature.
January 11, 2009
This book is so damn groovy. A must read.
October 2, 2016
....white people in the 70s...
October 8, 2025
This was a super interesting snapshot of 1970s feminist and lesbian activism! That is exactly up my alley and I enjoyed reading this tremendously.
Obviously when reading things like this it’s important to exercise your historical empathy. That being said, be warned there are consistent snide remarks in regard to butch-femme dynamics that made me go ohhhhh BROTHER. I understand the point of view the writers are coming from given the time period, so I guess it kind of makes me laugh a bit. I have faith they’d have… um… better opinions today.
I detected virtually no transphobia which I enjoyed and frankly was not expecting. I found the writing to be a little… cyclical? At some points. I just struggled to feel direction in some of the chapters which made me feel burnt out reading this sometimes.
The final chapter was beautiful, poignant, and shockingly relevant. “She knows she only has two ways to go—forward with courage or back to fear.”
My life as a lesbian is very beautiful and I feel very lucky. I think it’s our duty as queer people to remember the work our ancestors put in and keep that energy going. I’m grateful I get to read things like this that remind me of the work they did!
Obviously when reading things like this it’s important to exercise your historical empathy. That being said, be warned there are consistent snide remarks in regard to butch-femme dynamics that made me go ohhhhh BROTHER. I understand the point of view the writers are coming from given the time period, so I guess it kind of makes me laugh a bit. I have faith they’d have… um… better opinions today.
I detected virtually no transphobia which I enjoyed and frankly was not expecting. I found the writing to be a little… cyclical? At some points. I just struggled to feel direction in some of the chapters which made me feel burnt out reading this sometimes.
The final chapter was beautiful, poignant, and shockingly relevant. “She knows she only has two ways to go—forward with courage or back to fear.”
My life as a lesbian is very beautiful and I feel very lucky. I think it’s our duty as queer people to remember the work our ancestors put in and keep that energy going. I’m grateful I get to read things like this that remind me of the work they did!
June 23, 2024
Sappho was a right-on woman; a liberated view of lesbianism is about liberated women and lesbians. Who could ask for anything more? To the younger generation this book may be dated. To me, it’s right on!
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July 29, 2016really cool as a historical document; things were rough for queers in the 70s. The parts on the battles within the Women's Liberation movement were especially enlightening.
Social and psychological descriptions make for interesting comparisons to today's sexual climate -- in so many ways an improvement but still with many of the same problems concerning identity/expectations/social pressure/stigma and how these complexities are reflected in both individual and collective experience
Social and psychological descriptions make for interesting comparisons to today's sexual climate -- in so many ways an improvement but still with many of the same problems concerning identity/expectations/social pressure/stigma and how these complexities are reflected in both individual and collective experience
March 30, 2009
Interesting reading, from a historical perspective.
September 19, 2015
interesting from a historical perspective but pretty dull
September 7, 2024
it’s so interesting to read how the lesbian rights movement has evolved in the past 50 or so years. so cool to read a book like this!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews