Compulsory Heterosexuality

For this week you are reading two text, Rich's Compulsory Heterosexuality and Walker's Definition of Womanist. You can find both of these things on the Adam's Library electronic reserves. Just click on the tab in the middle of the page that says RESERVES and type in my name (BOGAD). You will see a listing for WMST 200. The rest of the reading for the course are found there.

Adriene Rich is not an easy read so please read slowly and carefully and try to stay focused on her central issues as she defines what she calls, "compulsory heterosexuality" and "lesbian exisistence." Try not to get bogged down in the details -- just work hard to understand these basic terms.

Note that the assignment in the syllabus asks you to focus your Talking Points specifically on this task. You don't have to choose one of the talking points options this week -- just focus on defining the terms.


Talking Points #4: Define what Rich means by “compulsory heterosexuality” and “lesbian existence” using specific evidence from the text (focus on this specifically rather than one of the TP options) (posted to your blog by 10/4 @ midnight)

I want to highly recommend that you use the internet to help you with Rich. Google "compulsory heterosexuality" or "Adriene Rich." What have others written about this article? What resources can you find online to help you figure her out? Googling is not cheating -- it is learning!! So include links to any resources you find that help you!!

See you next Thursday!

LB :)