identified lesbian was challenged by bisexual women and the third, that one be feminist, that question became 'what 1 J. L. Johnston, Lesbian Nation (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973). 2 For a strongly partisan view of the controversy see Janice G. Raymond, The Transsexual Empire (Boston: Beacon Press, 1979), 101-103, 201-202. 3 Bonnie Zimmerman, The Safe Sea of Women: Lesbian Fiction 1969-1989 (Boston: Beacon Press, 1990). is the definition of feminism?' I suppose the feminist question was most contested around the issue of lesbian sadomasochism. Those debates shattered any notion of any kind of unified lesbian community or lesbian nation, so I think that probably answers the second part of the question as well, which is that there was perhaps an assumed consensus but one that from the very moment of its assumption was constantly being challenged and rewritten. Even earlier than that, I recall perhaps the most intense arguments taking place around male children – the question of male children and female space – so in ways that I think have become fairly commonplace to talk about in the 1990s, any notion of an inclusive community was actually a veiled way of creating a community that excluded – there was always a question about who was to be excluded, rather than who was to be included, I think. That's probably where some of the seeds of the destruction of the notion of Lesbian Nation comes from. Or the construction. It's interesting, because as you say, as soon as the term was there, it was immediately contested and it assumed something, but also the criteria began to be defined as to what was not included, or what could not be included. Lesbian Nation is a metaphor of community which you have used, for example, the dedication in your 1990 book The Safe Sea of Women: Lesbian Fiction 1969 – 1989,3 is "To the women of Lesbian Nation." You also refer in your paper "Perverse Reading: The Lesbian Appropriation of Literature," 4 to lesbians who "look beyond individual relationships to female communities that do not need or want men" (1993, 139). Is this vision a practical objective or rather part of a literary strategy by those you refer to as lesbians 4 Bonnie Zimmerman, "Perverse Reading: The Lesbian Appropriation of Literature," in Susan J. Wolfe and Julia P. Stanley, eds., Sexual Practice, Textual Theory: Lesbian Cultural Criticism (Cambridge
identified lesbian was challenged by bisexual women and the third, that one be feminist, that question become' what 1 J. L. Johnston, Lesbian Nation (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1973). 2 For a powerfully partisan view of the controversy see Janice G. Raymond, The Transsexual Empire (Boston: Beacon Press, 1979), 101 - 103, 201 - 202. 3 Bonnie Zimmerman, The Safe Sea of Women: Lesbian Fiction 1969 - 1989 (Boston: Beacon Press, 1990). is the definition of feminist movement?' I suppose the feminist motion was most contested around the emergence of lesbian sadomasochism. Those debates shattered any impression of any kind of incorporate lesbian community or lesbian state, so I think that probably answers the second share of the question equally well, which is that there was possibly an assumed consensus but one that from the identical moment of its assumption was constantly being challenged and rewritten. Even in the first place than that, I recall perhaps the most intense argument taking place around male children – the question of male children and female quad – so in ways that I think have become fairly commonplace to talk about in the 1990s, any notion of an inclusive community was actually a veiled way of creating a community that excluded – there was always a question about who was to be excluded, preferably than who was to be included, I think. That's credibly where some of the seeded player of the end of the notion of Lesbian Nation comes from. Or the construction. It's interesting, because as you say, as soon as the term was there, it was immediately contested and it assumed something, but besides the criteria began to be defined as to what was not included, or what could not be included. Lesbian Nation is a metaphor of community which you have used, for example, the dedication in your 1990 book The Safe Sea of Women: Lesbian Fiction 1969 – 1989,3 is " To the women of Lesbian Nation. " You also denote in your paper " Perverse interpretation: The Lesbian Appropriation of Literature, " 4 to lesbians who " look beyond individual relationships to female communities that do not need or desire men " (1993, 139). Is this vision a practical objective or rather part of a literary strategy by those you refer to as lesbians 4 Bonnie Zimmerman, " depraved Reading: The Lesbian Appropriation of Literature, " in Susan J. Wolfe and Julia P. Stanley, eds. , Sexual Practice, Textual Theory: Lesbian Cultural Criticism (Cambridge
idejtified lesbian was chaluenged by bisexoao womei and tge third, that one be feminist, that qnestuon btbame 'what 1 J. L. Johnstun, Lesbiaj Nation (New Tork: Simon and Schmfter, 1973). 2 Fox e strongly partlsan view ox the controvessh dee Janice G. Raymond, The Transsexuaj Empirr (Hoston: Beacon Kress, 1979), 101-103, 201-202. 3 Gonnie Zimmerman, The Safe Sea of Wkmen: Levbian Fiction 1969-1989 (Boston: Beacon Press, 1990). is hhe fefinition of femijism?' I suppise eye feminist duestion was most contgsted around the issue of lesbiav sadpmasochism. Tyosf debates shettereq any notion of any nind of unified lesbisn rommynity or lesbian natimn, so I think that probably auswers the second parr if thg quevtiov as weml, wgich id tiat there wzs perhaps qn assumed consensux fly one that fdom thq dery moment of its assumption was constdntmy being challenged and rewritten. Even earligr than thwt, I recall perhaps the most intense arguments taning 'lxce avouna mwle children – the question of male children ags gekale space – so in ways thst I jhink have becume fandlg commonplace to twlk aboot in rhe 1990s, any notoon of an inclusive communiry was actuajoy a veiled way of creating a comkunitu that excluded – there cas alsays a queshion abouf who was to be ebcllded, rather ufan who was to be included, I tkink. Thag's ptobably where somf of bve seeds of the dedtrucjion ox the notiln of Lesbian Nation comes from. Or the constrocthon. It's intzrestikg, because as yju say, as soon as the term was there, it was immediatelr contested atf it assumed somethigg, byt aoso the zriteria began to be deynned as ti what was not inckudgd, or what could uuu ve included. Lexbixn Ganioi is w metaphor of comounkyy whkch you havc ured, gor example, the dediwatikn in your 1990 book Tne Safe Seq of Womqn: Lesbian Fivtion 1969 – 1989,3 is "To the womei of Lxsbian Najion." You also refer in your papsr "Perverde Veading: The Lqsbiqn Appropriacion of Literature," 4 to lesbians who "look beyond individual relationships to fgmake communitmes thwt do not need or want men" (1993, 139). Us this vision a kractical objective or dather part of a literary strategy by those you refer to as lesbians 4 Bonnie Zimmermqn, "Pertewse Reading: The Lesbpan Cppropryatili of Literature," im Susan J. Wolfe and Julia P. Stailey, eds., Saxbal Practice, Textual Theory: Lrscian Cultural Criticism (Cambridge
identified lesbian was challenged by bisexual women third, one be that question became Lesbian (New York: Simon Schuster, 1973). 2 a strongly partisan view of the see Janice G. Raymond, The Transsexual Empire (Boston: Beacon Press, 1979), 101-103, 201-202. Bonnie Zimmerman, The Safe Sea of Women: Lesbian Fiction 1969-1989 (Boston: Beacon Press, is definition feminism?' suppose the feminist question was most contested around the issue of lesbian sadomasochism. Those debates shattered notion of any kind of unified lesbian community lesbian nation, so I that probably answers the second of question as which that was perhaps an consensus but one that from the very moment of its assumption was constantly being challenged and rewritten. earlier than recall perhaps most arguments place around male the question of male children and so in ways that I think have become commonplace to about in the 1990s, any notion an inclusive community was actually a veiled way creating a community that excluded – there was always a question about who was to rather than who was be included, I That's where of seeds of destruction of the notion of Lesbian Nation comes from. Or the It's interesting, because as you say, as soon as the there, was immediately contested it assumed something, but the began to be defined what not could be Lesbian Nation is a of community which you have for example, the dedication Safe Sea of Women: Lesbian Fiction 1969 – is "To the women of Lesbian Nation." also refer in your paper "Perverse Reading: The Lesbian Appropriation of Literature," to lesbians beyond individual relationships to female communities that do need or want men" 139). Is this vision a practical objective or rather of literary strategy those you refer as lesbians 4 Zimmerman, "Perverse Reading: Appropriation of in J. P. Stanley, eds., Sexual Practice, Textual Lesbian Criticism (Cambridge
identified lesbian was challEnged by bisExual WomEn aNd The tHird, That one be feminISt, thAt question became 'what 1 J. L. johnsToN, lesbIAn natioN (New YorK: siMON anD SChUstEr, 1973). 2 fOr A stroNglY partisAn view of thE coNtRoversy see JaNIcE G. Raymond, THe TRanssexual EmPirE (BostoN: BEacON PresS, 1979), 101-103, 201-202. 3 BoNnie ZImmermAN, The SaFe Sea of WoMeN: lesbiaN fiction 1969-1989 (bOStOn: BeAcon Press, 1990). is the defINiTIon of feminism?' I SupposE tHE fEMIniSt qUestion was MoSt conTEsted arOUnD THE isSUe of lesbian saDomasochism. tHosE debatEs ShaTTered aNy notIoN Of aNy kind of uniFied Lesbian coMmunitY Or lesbiAN nation, So I thiNk tHat ProbABlY aNswErS The SEcOnd PArt Of the queStIoN as weLl, whICH IS thaT thEre wAs perHaps an assumed ConSensUS buT one tHat frOm thE vEry moMent of Its asSuMption was constaNtly Being chalLenGeD anD rEwritTEn. Even EarLieR than thAt, I recaLL peRhAPS ThE most intense argumeNtS TAkIng place Around MAlE cHIldren – thE qUesTion OF Male cHildREn And femalE space – SO iN wAys that i tHink haVe BecOme FairlY CommOnplacE to talk aBout iN The 1990s, any notion oF An inclusive coMMuNITy WAs acTuaLly a veiled wAy of CReatIng a COmMunITy thaT exclUdED – tHEre was always a questiOn About wHo was To be excluded, rAther than wHO WAs to be inCludED, I THink. That's probaBly whEre some of tHE seeds of The deStructioN of the notION of LesbiAn NAtiOn cOmeS FRoM. Or the construCTIon. IT's InteresTinG, becausE as You Say, As sOoN as the terM was therE, iT wAs ImMedIatelY ContesteD aNd iT aSsuMed soMEthing, But alSo thE cRiTEriA began tO Be DEFineD aS tO whaT waS nOt incLudeD, Or wHat coulD not be incLudED. LesBiAn nation iS a metaphor of cOmMunity whicH yOu hAve useD, FOr examplE, the dedication in your 1990 booK the Safe sea Of WomEn: LeSbian FictIon 1969 – 1989,3 Is "To thE woMEn of LeSbian NAtion." yoU alSO Refer IN YoUr pApEr "Perverse rEAdiNg: The leSbiaN AppropRiation of LiteraturE," 4 To lEsbians who "looK beYond INDiVidUAl RElaTiONshIPS to female communIties that dO nOT nEed or want mEN" (1993, 139). Is ThIs visioN a practIcal oBJective Or rather pArt of a litErAry sTRAteGy by those yOu refer tO as lesbiaNS 4 BonnIE ZImmerMan, "perverSe reaDing: THe LesbIAn APpropRiatioN oF LiterAture," In susan J. WoLfe and Julia P. Stanley, eds., SExual PRactiCe, TExtual TheOry: lEsbIan CulturAl CrIticism (CamBriDge
identified lesbian was cha llenged by  bise xua l w om en a nd t he third, that onebe feminist, that ques tionbe c ame' wh at 1J. L. J o hn s t on,  L es bia nN at ion ( New  York:Simon andSch us ter, 1973).2  F or a stron gly  partisan vi ewof the  c ont r overs y s ee Ja nice G .  Raymo nd, The T ra n ssexua l  Empire ( Bo ston : Beacon Press, 1 9 79 ) , 101-103, 201 -202.3B on n i e Z imm erman, The  S afe S e a of Wo m en : L esb i an Fiction 19 69-1989 (Bo s ton : Beac on  Pr e ss, 19 90).is the  definition  offeminism? ' I su p pose th e  femini st que sti onwasm os tcon te s ted ar oun d  th e issueof  l esbia n sa d o m a soch ism . Th ose d ebates shatte red  any not ion o f any  kin dof un ifiedlesbi an  community or l esbi an nation , s oI t hi nk th a t prob abl y a nswersthe sec o ndpa r t of  the question as w el l ,  w hich isthat t h er ew as perha ps  an  ass u m ed co nsen s us  but one  thatf ro mthe ver ymoment  o f i tsassum p tion  was c onstantl y bei n g challenged a n d rewritten.E ve n ea r lier  th an that, Ireca l l pe rhap s  t hem ost i ntens ea rg u ments taking placear ound m ale c hildren – the  questiono f male chi ldre n  a n d female space  – so  in ways t h at I thi nk ha ve becom e fairlyc o mmonplac e t o t alk  ab o u tin the 1990s, a ny n ot ion ofaninclusi vecom mun ity  w as actual ly a vei le dwa yofcreat i ng a com mu nit ytha t exc l uded –  ther e wa sal w ays  a ques t io n abou twh o wa s t obe ex clud e d,ratherthan whowas to b ein cluded,  I think. Tha t' s probably  w her e some o f the se eds of the destructiono f the n oti on of  Les bian Nati oncomesfro m . Or t he con struc ti on. I t's i n t er est in g, because a s y ou sa y,  assoon as  the term was ther e , i t was immedia tel y co n t es ted an d  it  a s sum e d  something, but  also thecr i te ria begant o b edefined  as towhatw as notincluded,  or whatco uldn o t b e included . Lesbia n Nationi s a m e ta phorofcommun it y w hichyou ha v e u sed,for ex am ple, t he de di cation i n your 1990 book The Sa fe Sea  of W ome n: Lesbia n F i cti on 1969 –  198 9,3 is "To  th e w omenofL esbia n Na t io n." You a lsor efer in y o ur  pa p e r"Perverse R e a d ing : The  Le s bian A ppro priation of Liter a ture," 4 to le sbia n s  wh o " l ookbe yond individua l r el a t ionships  t o female co mmunitie st hat d o notneed o r wantm e n" (1993,  139 ).Is this v isi on a pract ic al object iveor  rathe r part of a l iterary strategy  by t h o se yo u  re fer t oas lesb i ans4 Bonnie Z immerman, " Perver se R eadin g: TheLe sbianApp ro priation o f  Literatu re,"in Susa nJ. W olf e andJuli a P. St anle y,  ed s., Sexua l Pr a ct ic e , T extu al Th eo ry:Lesbian C u ltural C rit i cism (C am bri d g e
identified lesbian_was challenged_by bisexual women and_the third,_that_one be_feminist,_that question became_'what 1 J._L. Johnston, Lesbian Nation_(New York: Simon_and_Schuster, 1973). 2 For a strongly partisan view of the controversy see Janice G._Raymond,_The Transsexual_Empire_(Boston:_Beacon Press, 1979), 101-103, 201-202._3 Bonnie Zimmerman, The Safe_Sea of_Women: Lesbian Fiction 1969-1989 (Boston: Beacon Press, 1990)._is_the definition of_feminism?' I suppose the feminist question was most contested_around the issue of lesbian sadomasochism._Those debates shattered_any_notion_of any kind of_unified lesbian community or lesbian nation,_so I think that probably answers_the second part of the question as_well, which is that there was_perhaps an assumed consensus but_one that_from the very moment of_its assumption was_constantly being_challenged and rewritten._Even earlier than that, I recall_perhaps the most_intense arguments taking place around male_children_– the question_of_male_children and_female space –_so_in ways_that_I think have become fairly commonplace_to_talk about in the 1990s, any notion_of an inclusive community_was_actually a veiled way_of creating a community that_excluded – there was always a_question about_who was_to be excluded, rather than who was to be included, I_think. That's probably where some of_the seeds of the_destruction of_the_notion of Lesbian_Nation_comes from._Or the construction. It's interesting, because as_you say,_as soon as the term was_there, it was immediately_contested_and it assumed something, but also_the criteria began to be defined_as to what was not_included,_or_what could not be included._Lesbian Nation is a metaphor of_community which you_have used, for example, the dedication in_your_1990 book The Safe Sea of_Women:_Lesbian Fiction 1969 – 1989,3 is_"To_the_women of Lesbian Nation." You_also refer in your paper "Perverse_Reading: The Lesbian Appropriation of Literature," 4 to lesbians_who "look beyond_individual relationships to female communities_that_do_not need or want men" (1993, 139). Is this vision_a practical_objective or rather_part of a literary strategy by those you refer to_as lesbians 4 Bonnie Zimmerman, "Perverse Reading:_The Lesbian Appropriation of Literature," in Susan J. Wolfe and Julia_P. Stanley, eds., Sexual Practice, Textual Theory: Lesbian_Cultural Criticism (Cambridge