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The Color Purple (1982) focuses on highlighting Celie’s journey throughout life as an oppressed black woman living in the South in the United States in the early 1900s. Celie is abused mentally, physically, and sexually by her stepfather Alphonso and her husband Mr. _____. This is the oppression she has faced, which holds back her search for her own identity. Black feminism, lesbian feminism and queer theory are explained and used in order to understand how to analyze The Color Purple. Gender performance, compulsory heterosexuality and lesbianism are all important concepts that are used to analyze Celie’s oppression and development. This paper highlights the factors that have aided Celie in her search for selfhood, which are motherhood, female solidarity, black lesbian shamelessness and especially her lesbian relationship with the singer Shug. The analysis concludes that Shug was both the catalyst and one of the driving forces which enabled Celie to find her voice.

The Color Purple (1982) focuses on highlighting Celie’s journey throughout life as an oppressed black woman living in the South in the United States in the early 1900s. Celie is abused mentally, physically, and sexually by her stepfather Alphonso and her husband Mr. _____. This is the oppression she has faced, which holds back her search for her own identity. Black feminism, lesbian feminism and queer theory are explained and used in order to understand how to analyze The Color Purple. Gender performance, compulsory heterosexuality and lesbianism are all important concepts that are used to analyze Celie’s oppression and development. This paper highlights the factors that have aided Celie in her search for selfhood, which are motherhood, female solidarity, black lesbian shamelessness and especially her lesbian relationship with the singer Shug. The analysis concludes that Shug was both the catalyst and one of the driving forces which enabled Celie to find her voice.

This thesis analyzes how compulsory heterosexuality is present in Polish legislation on women* and trans* people’s reproductive and sexual rights. The aim of this study is to increase an understanding of how compulsory heterosexuality’s presence in legislation regarding reproductive and sexual rights can consequently affect women* and trans* people in practice. By the means of qualitative content analysis and the operationalization of compulsory heterosexuality through the lens of queer feminism, this thesis analyzes three Polish legislations on reproductive and sexual rights, namely the Constitution of Poland, the Family Planning, Human Embryo Protection and Conditions of Permissibility of Abortion Act, and the Family and Guardianship Code. Adrienne Rich’s theory of compulsory heterosexuality suggests that heterosexuality is not natural, but a violent institution enforced in society through e.g. law. This thesis found that compulsory heterosexuality was present in all three legislations, and presented itself through: erasure of women* and trans* people, denial of their sexuality, idealization of heterosexuality, rape and violence, control of their bodies, robbing of their children, punishment for being LGBTQIA+, diminishing their aspirations, restricting their self-fulfillment to parenthood and marriage, keeping them from seeking reproductive care, erasure of their traditions, objectification, and dismissive language. Possible consequences identified were: invalidation and invisibilization of queer and trans* people, increased oppression, the social norm being a negative bias against LGBTQIA+ people, criminalization of LGBTQIA+ people, more deaths at the hands of the law, more parentless children, making women* and trans* people question their body or intuition, and an increase in illegal unsafe abortions or abortion tourism.

This thesis analyzes how compulsory heterosexuality is present in Polish legislation on women* and trans* people’s reproductive and sexual rights. The aim of this study is to increase an understanding of how compulsory heterosexuality’s presence in legislation regarding reproductive and sexual rights can consequently affect women* and trans* people in practice. By the means of qualitative content analysis and the operationalization of compulsory heterosexuality through the lens of queer feminism, this thesis analyzes three Polish legislations on reproductive and sexual rights, namely the Constitution of Poland, the Family Planning, Human Embryo Protection and Conditions of Permissibility of Abortion Act, and the Family and Guardianship Code. Adrienne Rich’s theory of compulsory heterosexuality suggests that heterosexuality is not natural, but a violent institution enforced in society through e.g. law. This thesis found that compulsory heterosexuality was present in all three legislations, and presented itself through: erasure of women* and trans* people, denial of their sexuality, idealization of heterosexuality, rape and violence, control of their bodies, robbing of their children, punishment for being LGBTQIA+, diminishing their aspirations, restricting their self-fulfillment to parenthood and marriage, keeping them from seeking reproductive care, erasure of their traditions, objectification, and dismissive language. Possible consequences identified were: invalidation and invisibilization of queer and trans* people, increased oppression, the social norm being a negative bias against LGBTQIA+ people, criminalization of LGBTQIA+ people, more deaths at the hands of the law, more parentless children, making women* and trans* people question their body or intuition, and an increase in illegal unsafe abortions or abortion tourism.

This article aims to revisit the short story “Delicado”, by the playwright and journalist Nelson Falcão Rodrigues (1994), present in the collection A vida como ela é..., the result of his work for the newspaper Última Hora, in order to discuss how the narration shows a compulsory heteronormative society that violates the existence of the protagonist outside the norm, to the point that he comes to cause his own death, not supporting external pressure to fulfill his 'role as a man'. Throughout the writing, we show how Eusebiozinho, the main character, when breaking with sexual binarism and social norm, is obliged to return to a supposed original / aprioristic place, mandatory masculinity, through compulsory heterosexuality, imposed by the family and represented by the figure of his uncle. For that, we used queer studies and texts by Adrienne Rich (2003), Judith Butler (2005), Monique Witting (1992), Teresa de Lauretis (1994), Robert Connell (1995) and Michael Foucault (2001), among others, Este artigo pretende revisitar o conto-crônica “Delicado”, do dramaturgo e jornalista Nelson Falcão Rodrigues (1994), presente na coletânea A vida como ela é..., fruto de seu trabalho para o jornal Última Hora, a fim de discutir de que modo a narração evidencia uma sociedade heteronormativa compulsória a qual violenta a existência do protagonista alheio à norma, a ponto de este vir a provocar a própria morte, não suportando a pressão externa para cumprir o seu ‘papel de homem’. Ao longo da escrita, evidenciamos como Eusebiozinho, personagem principal, ao romper com o binarismo sexual e norma social, é obrigado a retornar a um suposto lugar original/apriorístico, o da masculinidade hegemônica, por via da heterossexualidade compulsória, imposta pela família e representada pela figura do tio. Recorremos, para tanto, aos estudos queer e aos textos de Adrienne Rich (2003), Judith Butler (2005), Monique Witting (1992), Teresa de Lauretis (1994), Robert Connell (1995) e Michael Foucault (2001), dentre outros.

This article aims to revisit the short story “Delicado”, by the playwright and journalist Nelson Falcão Rodrigues (1994), present in the collection A vida como ela é..., the result of his work for the newspaper Última Hora, in order to discuss how the narration shows a compulsory heteronormative society that violates the existence of the protagonist outside the norm, to the point that he comes to cause his own death, not supporting external pressure to fulfill his 'role as a man'. Throughout the writing, we show how Eusebiozinho, the main character, when breaking with sexual binarism and social norm, is obliged to return to a supposed original / aprioristic place, mandatory masculinity, through compulsory heterosexuality, imposed by the family and represented by the figure of his uncle. For that, we used queer studies and texts by Adrienne Rich (2003), Judith Butler (2005), Monique Witting (1992), Teresa de Lauretis (1994), Robert Connell (1995) and Michael Foucault (2001), among others, Este artigo pretende revisitar o conto-crônica “Delicado”, do dramaturgo e jornalista Nelson Falcão Rodrigues (1994), presente na coletânea A vida como ela é..., fruto de seu trabalho para o jornal Última Hora, a fim de discutir de que modo a narração evidencia uma sociedade heteronormativa compulsória a qual violenta a existência do protagonista alheio à norma, a ponto de este vir a provocar a própria morte, não suportando a pressão externa para cumprir o seu ‘papel de homem’. Ao longo da escrita, evidenciamos como Eusebiozinho, personagem principal, ao romper com o binarismo sexual e norma social, é obrigado a retornar a um suposto lugar original/apriorístico, o da masculinidade hegemônica, por via da heterossexualidade compulsória, imposta pela família e representada pela figura do tio. Recorremos, para tanto, aos estudos queer e aos textos de Adrienne Rich (2003), Judith Butler (2005), Monique Witting (1992), Teresa de Lauretis (1994), Robert Connell (1995) e Michael Foucault (2001), dentre outros.

In this paper, I analyze the role played by the notion of social contract in the radical lesbianthought of Monique Wittig. I argue that the wittigian idea of social contract has two dimensions: onecritical and another creative or “utopian”, as the authoress calls it. With respect to the critical dimension, Isupport that Wittig finds the way of accounting for the instituent and tacit character of heterosexuality andrevealing the terms of the contract for women (heterosexualization and appropriation) through the notion ofsocial contract. However, the creative or “utopian” dimension lies in the possibility of modifying the pact. Iconsider that the thought of Wittig about the social contract has three qualities that do not coincide with theetymological meaning, nor agree with the classical definition of utopia: facticity, contingency and actuality.I conclude, therefore, that the utopian dimension of the social contract does not point at the future, but itdesignates the ability of each individual subject (“each one of us”, with the expression of the authoress)to act on it in the present, “here and now” as Wittig likes to say. I also demonstrate how the wittigianreconsideration of the concept of social contract is inscribed in her perspective of materialist lesbianism.Keywords: Wittig, compulsory heterosexuality, lesbianism, materialist feminism, agency., En el presente artículo, analizo el papel que juega la noción de contrato social en el pensamiento lesbiano radical de Monique Wittig. Argumento que la idea wittigiana de contrato social presenta dos dimensiones: una crítica y otra creativa o “utópica”, como la denomina la autora. Con respecto a la dimensión crítica, sostengo que Wittig encuentra en la noción de contrato social la forma de dar cuenta del carácter instituyente y tácito de la heterosexualidad y de desvelar cuáles son los términos del contrato para las mujeres (heterosexualización y apropiación). La dimensión creativa o “utópica” radica, en cambio, en la posibilidad de modificar el pacto. Estimo que la idea de Wittig de contrato social presenta tres características que no coinciden ni con la acepción etimológica ni con la definición clásica de utopía: facticidad, contingencia y actualidad. Concluyo, por tanto, que la dimensión utópica del contrato social no designa un futurible, sino que indica la capacidad de cada sujeto individual (“cada una de nosotras”, en expresión de la autora) de actuar sobre él en el presente, “aquí y ahora” como le gusta decir a Wittig. Asimismo muestro cómo la reconsideración wittigiana del concepto de contrato social se inscribe en su perspectiva del lesbianismo materialista.

In this paper, I analyze the role played by the notion of social contract in the radical lesbianthought of Monique Wittig. I argue that the wittigian idea of social contract has two dimensions: onecritical and another creative or “utopian”, as the authoress calls it. With respect to the critical dimension, Isupport that Wittig finds the way of accounting for the instituent and tacit character of heterosexuality andrevealing the terms of the contract for women (heterosexualization and appropriation) through the notion ofsocial contract. However, the creative or “utopian” dimension lies in the possibility of modifying the pact. Iconsider that the thought of Wittig about the social contract has three qualities that do not coincide with theetymological meaning, nor agree with the classical definition of utopia: facticity, contingency and actuality.I conclude, therefore, that the utopian dimension of the social contract does not point at the future, but itdesignates the ability of each individual subject (“each one of us”, with the expression of the authoress)to act on it in the present, “here and now” as Wittig likes to say. I also demonstrate how the wittigianreconsideration of the concept of social contract is inscribed in her perspective of materialist lesbianism.Keywords: Wittig, compulsory heterosexuality, lesbianism, materialist feminism, agency., En el presente artículo, analizo el papel que juega la noción de contrato social en el pensamiento lesbiano radical de Monique Wittig. Argumento que la idea wittigiana de contrato social presenta dos dimensiones: una crítica y otra creativa o “utópica”, como la denomina la autora. Con respecto a la dimensión crítica, sostengo que Wittig encuentra en la noción de contrato social la forma de dar cuenta del carácter instituyente y tácito de la heterosexualidad y de desvelar cuáles son los términos del contrato para las mujeres (heterosexualización y apropiación). La dimensión creativa o “utópica” radica, en cambio, en la posibilidad de modificar el pacto. Estimo que la idea de Wittig de contrato social presenta tres características que no coinciden ni con la acepción etimológica ni con la definición clásica de utopía: facticidad, contingencia y actualidad. Concluyo, por tanto, que la dimensión utópica del contrato social no designa un futurible, sino que indica la capacidad de cada sujeto individual (“cada una de nosotras”, en expresión de la autora) de actuar sobre él en el presente, “aquí y ahora” como le gusta decir a Wittig. Asimismo muestro cómo la reconsideración wittigiana del concepto de contrato social se inscribe en su perspectiva del lesbianismo materialista.

This thesis examines same-sex attracted women's understandings of sexual consent. The thesis uses the theory of compulsory heterosexuality to analyse interviews with twenty-three women about their experiences in sexuality education and their relationships. The findings point to gaps in Australian sexuality education that position same-sex attracted women outside of mainstream discourses about sexual consent. The omission of same-sex attracted women from discussions about consent has implications for the prevention of sexual assault. Participants recommended that sexuality education focus on ethical approaches that are inclusive of queer experiences and perspectives to better prevent sexual violence in all types of women's relationships.

It has long been argued that gender-based inequalities within patriarchy create barriers to women’s sexual well-being, in particular to sexual pleasure. This study integrated Empowerment Theory with research on women’s sexuality to examine multiple factors related to women’s sexual pleasure and satisfaction. An empowerment process is one social psychological mechanism through which less powerful individuals gain influence and power that results in increased opportunities to control decisions that affect their lives. In the present study, 271 heterosexual and 159 sexual minority undergraduate women completed a questionnaire assessing dimensions of sexual empowerment processes, including critical consciousness about gender and sexuality (e.g., feminist identity, conformity to feminine norms), sexual subjectivity (e.g., entitlement to pleasure, self-efficacy, body image self-consciousness), actions (e.g., sexual assertiveness), and sexual pleasure (e.g., sexual satisfaction and orgasm experience). Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling and support was found for sexual empowerment processes in which critical consciousness about gender was indirectly related to sexual pleasure through relationships with two mediators, sexual subjectivity and sexual assertiveness, in line with the hypotheses. While sexual empowerment processes were largely similar for sexual minority and heterosexual women, the groups differed in baseline levels of critical consciousness, some aspects of sexual subjectivity, and sexual assertiveness. Implications for sexual education, clinical practice, and future research are discussed.

This thesis examines changes in the construction of sexuality over time in two Australian women’s magazines, Cleo and Cosmopolitan, focussing on four key feminist battlegrounds that have gained minimal attention in the existing literature. In doing so, it provides the most comprehensive longitudinal study of the sexual content of Australian women’s magazines to date. Taking a decennial snapshot approach, the thesis examines three magazines from the years 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2013, resulting in a data corpus of nearly 6,000 magazine pages and close to 1,400 articles, and covering the lifespan of the magazines. A feminist critical discourse analysis is combined with content analysis to engage with theoretical debates surrounding compulsory heterosexuality, female–female sexuality, pornification and the links between changes in the representation of heterosexual practice, feminism and postfeminism. Whilst there exists a significant amount of feminist scholarship that explores these concepts, there is a paucity of literature that investigates them in the context of women’s magazines. Given that these areas represent four critical facets of contemporary feminist theorising, the omission of these topics from previous analyses of women’s magazines represents a critical oversight in the literature. Ultimately, the thesis draws two central conclusions. Firstly, it contends that despite surface–level changes in sexual and relationship content across the data set, the underlying paradigm of hetero monogamy remains unchanged. As such, the thesis asserts that, despite a seemingly more diverse, empowered and liberated sexuality for women in the contemporary editions of Cleo and Cosmopolitan, in reality such feminist rhetoric masks an enduring model of sexuality, which rests on women’s sexual and emotional maintenance of male partners and their own self–objectification and self– surveillance. It therefore concludes that positive, active discourses of women’s self– reliance w

It has long been argued that gender-based inequalities within patriarchy create barriers to women’s sexual well-being, in particular to sexual pleasure. This study integrated Empowerment Theory with research on women’s sexuality to examine multiple factors related to women’s sexual pleasure and satisfaction. An empowerment process is one social psychological mechanism through which less powerful individuals gain influence and power that results in increased opportunities to control decisions that affect their lives. In the present study, 271 heterosexual and 159 sexual minority undergraduate women completed a questionnaire assessing dimensions of sexual empowerment processes, including critical consciousness about gender and sexuality (e.g., feminist identity, conformity to feminine norms), sexual subjectivity (e.g., entitlement to pleasure, self-efficacy, body image self-consciousness), actions (e.g., sexual assertiveness), and sexual pleasure (e.g., sexual satisfaction and orgasm experience). Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling and support was found for sexual empowerment processes in which critical consciousness about gender was indirectly related to sexual pleasure through relationships with two mediators, sexual subjectivity and sexual assertiveness, in line with the hypotheses. While sexual empowerment processes were largely similar for sexual minority and heterosexual women, the groups differed in baseline levels of critical consciousness, some aspects of sexual subjectivity, and sexual assertiveness. Implications for sexual education, clinical practice, and future research are discussed.

Under ungdomsåren sker stora förändringar, både fysiskt och psykiskt. Utforskandet av sexualiteten blir mer aktuell och den sexuella identiteten och den sexuella läggningen kan genomgå förändringar. Viktiga aspekter för att identifiera sig med den sexuella läggningen anses av vissa forskare vara självkänsla, nära socialt stöd och ifrågasättande. Syftet med denna studie är att finna svar på hur mönster av dessa faktorer kan påverka den sexuella identiteten bland gymnasieungdomar. Studien genomfördes med en kvantitativ ansats. En klusteranalys genomfördes för att söka svar på vilka mönster som ökar sannolikheten för att ungdomarna skall identifiera sig med sin egna sexuella läggning. Studien fann att den faktor i mönstret som följer identifiering med den egna sexuella läggningen är självkänsla.

Under ungdomsåren sker stora förändringar, både fysiskt och psykiskt. Utforskandet av sexualiteten blir mer aktuell och den sexuella identiteten och den sexuella läggningen kan genomgå förändringar. Viktiga aspekter för att identifiera sig med den sexuella läggningen anses av vissa forskare vara självkänsla, nära socialt stöd och ifrågasättande. Syftet med denna studie är att finna svar på hur mönster av dessa faktorer kan påverka den sexuella identiteten bland gymnasieungdomar. Studien genomfördes med en kvantitativ ansats. En klusteranalys genomfördes för att söka svar på vilka mönster som ökar sannolikheten för att ungdomarna skall identifiera sig med sin egna sexuella läggning. Studien fann att den faktor i mönstret som följer identifiering med den egna sexuella läggningen är självkänsla.