Societal Pressure

Lesbians are constantly exposed to the pressures of society. If we keep our gayness hidden we are oppressed by the psychic damage caused by our fear and guilt and our lives become controlled by the fear that others will find out. If we decide to be openly gay we are labelled as sick and run very real risks of losing our jobs, accommodation, friends etc. We also face the danger of physical attack from men who cannot accept the idea that a group of women are not dependent on them.

Much of the prejudice against us is based on ignorance and fear, and is a rational response to a fundamental attack on the patriarchal power structure. We are the ultimate insult to the sexist male world - women without men. This leads to the inevitable conclusion that lesbianism and feminism are interdependent and must be recognized as such by both sides.