Awards

• Winner of Lambda Literary Awards (Lesbian Studies) 1995

Overview

"Written by lesbians of different ages, races and religions, and compiled by one of the gay movement's best-known writers and activists, these original essays give vibrant voice to the diversity of the lesbian experience. Celebrating the many ways in which the lesbian experience is unique from all others, many of these pieces focus on specific lesbian concerns such as sexual practices, raising children and higher incidence of certain illnesses. Beyond pointing out these differences, the essays also provide a comprehensive view of the many phases of lesbian life by covering diverse topics like body piercing, coming out and work. Short narratives, To Mother or Not to Mother,"" Confessions of a Lesbian Vampire,"" About Being an Old Lesbian in Love,"" and more, complement and enrich the main essays, adding a unique personal tone to the collection. A mix of the serious and the irreverent, Dyke Life is an important contribution to gay and lesbian literature."

Full Product Details

Author:   Karla Jay ,  Karla Jay
Publisher:   Basic Books
Imprint:   Basic Books
Dimensions:   Width: 15.90cm , Height: 2.40cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.594kg
ISBN:  

9780465039081

ISBN 10:   0465039081
Pages:   384
Publication Date:   31 May 1996
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Relating to Others * Are We Family? Lesbians and Families of Origin Laura S. Brown * An Afternoon with My If-There-Were-a-Laws Judy MacLean * At Home Terri de la Pea * A New Political Twist Del Martin and Phillis Lyon * Finding a Word for Myself: Themes in Lesbian Coming-Out Stories Jessica F. Morris, Amy J. Ojerholm, Teri M. Brooks, Dana M. Osowieki, and Esther D. Rothblum * What I Should Have Said Deborah Perkins * At the Crossroads: Lesbian Youth Joyce Hunter * GWFISO Kelly Jo Woodside * Lesbian Baby Boomers at Midlife Esther D. Rothblum, Beth Mintz, D. Brookes Cowan, and Cheryl Haller * It Is a Large Future Lauren Crux * The Start of Something Big Paula Martinac * Circles and Rings: A Womans Ritual Sandra Butler * We Never Promised You Role Models Jear ne Adleman * RV Life Begins at Seventy Shevy Healy Relating to Each Other * Lesbian Couples Beverly A. Greene * About Being an Old Lesbian in Love Mary Meigs * Breaking Up Tee A. Corinne * Bridge Jean Swallow * Procrasti-dating Jacqueline Lapidus * Lesbian Marriage Ceremonies: I Do Kitty Tsui * June Brides E.J. Graff * Our Relationships and Their Laws Ruthann Robson * Whats Race Got to Do with It? Paula Ross * Creating Lesbian Families Heather Conrad and Kate Colwell * To Mother or Not to Mother Sylvia Blackstone * Our Children and Their Laws Ruthann Robson * Lesbian Parenting: Radical or Retrograde? Sondra Segal-Sklar * Pride and Prejudice Janet Linder * Mother of Stephen Louise G. Whitney * Public Schools/Private Lives Beth Rosen Sex and Gender Identity * Clit Notes Marny Hall * Psychic Armor Judith P. Stelboum * Body Piercing Yemaya KauriAlecto * Confessions of a Lesbian Vampire Amanda Kovattana * My First Dildo Slick Harris * Safer Sex Marcia Munson * My First Lover Betty Rose Dudley * Guessing Games Kath Weston * WYSIWYG (What You See Isnt What You Get) Rini Das * Butch Mothers, Femme Bull Dykes: Dismantling Our Own Stereotypes JoAnn Loulan * Double Trouble Lesla Newman * Black Lace Hairbow Greta Gaard The Public World * Lesbians in Corporate America Maria De La O * Tales of a Suburban Columnist Amanda Kovattana * She Tickles with a Hammer Donna Allegra * Outing and the Politics of the Closet Victoria A. Brownworth * Oy Veh, the Judge on the Bench Is a Dyke! Hon. Paula J. Hepner * Something Snapped Lee Lynch * San Francisco Spice Rack Anna Livia The Lesbian Body * Health Care Issues Karen F. Kerner * After the First Visit Margaret Robison * Another Story Victoria A. Brownworth * A Letter from Anita Kitty Tsui * Outlaws and Addicts: Lesbians and the Recovery Movement Jane Futcher * Who Cares? Lesbians As Caregivers Jeannine DeLombard * The Dog, the Cat, and the Activist Emily Rosenberg

Reviews

Although loosely organized, this collection of writings on lesbian life is striking in its intellectual and experiential diversity. Jay (English and Women's Studies/Pace Univ.) offers a window into a wide range of lesbian experiences and, more important, some analyses not often heard. Essays explore lesbian relationships to families of origin, sex, gendered roles, parenting, health issues, midlife, marriage, aging, race, and the ethics of outing. Two complex and well-argued entries call for more flexible thinking about butch/femme roles, while a charming and equally convincing essay by Leslea Newman celebrates her traditional butch/femme relationship. Marcia Munson brings some much-needed common sense to the fervor over lesbian safer sex: Always fasten your seat belt while driving to or from a sexual encounter, she advises. You're far more likely to die in a car crash than from an STD you might get from a woman. Marny Hall explores the role of the imagination in lesbian sex lives - and ends up fantasizing about one of the women she interviewed for the chapter. In Black Lace Hairbow, Greta Gaard articulately reflects on the way getting involved with a man complicated her femme lesbian identity. Short sidebars scattered throughout are among the liveliest pieces in the collection: E.J. Graft's on her commitment ceremony; Amanda Kovattana's on life as a lesbian vampire - a seducer of straight women; and a piece by novelist Mary Meigs on romance in her old age. Unfortunately, the schema is haphazard, and it is often unclear why a particular essay falls under a given theme: Why, for instance, are articles about lesbian youth, baby boomers, and aging lumped under the heading Relating to Others ? The essays themselves, however, are both entertaining and thoughtful. (Kirkus Reviews)

Author Information

Karla Jay is Professor of English and Director of Women's Studies at Pace Unviersity. She has authored and edited eight books, including the pioneering Out of the Closets (with Allen Young), and has written for many publications, including the New York Times Book Review, Ms. magazine, New York Newsday, and the Village Voice.

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