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Why does Rich call heterosexuality "compulsory"? What does this mean, and why is it so?
Rich argues that we are required to be heterosexual if we want to fit into society -- our societies are based on heterosexual relationships. She says that women are taught to desire men from a young age because it is necessary for men to remain in power in society. Women are also subliminally coerced into heterosexual relationships by the many threats of violence men pose in their lives.
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What is the lesbian continuum? Why does Rich think its definition is so important?
According to Rich, the lesbian continuum is a spectrum on which all female-female relationships -- ranging from...
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