Lesbian Subjects: A Feminist Studies Reader

by Martha Vicinus

The growth in cultural studies has brought homosexuality to the center of work on gender and sexuality. The lesbian is now an accepted subject for scrutiny - she exists, but how do we define her history, when did it begin, and whom do we include? Lesbian Subjects gathers essays - primarily from feminist studies between 1980 and 1993 - and traces lesbian studies from its beginnings, examining the difficulties of defining a lesbian perspective and a lesbian past - a culture, social milieux, and states of mind.
Essays range from studies of such well-known figures as the Harlem renaissance poet Alice Dunbar-Nelson, to studies of specific historical moments, such as the regulation of sexuality in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. Other essays treat well-known authors such as Virginia Woolf and Gertrude Stein, lesser-known writers from the early nineteenth century to the present, postmodern definitions of the lesbian, "Queer Theory," and lesbian invisibility.

Genres: Feminism

284 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Martha Vicinus is an American scholar of English literature and Women's studies. She serves as the Eliza M. Mosher Distinguished University Professor of English, Women's Studies, and History at the University of Michigan.

Reviews

[fausto · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the book have some very good articles, I definitely believe there are better options if you are looking for a lesbian studies anthology. I specially enjoy the photographs by Tee Corinne and the article by the same author and the last one of Martha Vicinus.

[Freyja Vanadis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book in late 1996, lured by the cover picture of the two lesbians kissing. But as I remember, I hated the book back then and I hate it even worse now. I wasn't even able to finish it this time around, I got to page 40 and called it quits. I don't know if this book was written as a textbook for a lesbian studies college class, but it's too dry and scholarly for me. It's so painfully slow reading, I couldn't force myself to go any farther.