Dyke Life From Growing Up To Growing Old, A Celebration Of The Lesbian Experience

by Jay, Karla

• ISBN13: 9780465039081
• ISBN10: 0465039081
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-05-31
• Publisher: Basic Books

Summary

Written by lesbians of different ages, races and religionsand compiled by one of the gay movement's best-known writers and activiststhese 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 morecomplement and enrich the main essays, adding a unique personal tone to the collection. A mix of the serious and the irreverent,Dyke Lifeis an important contribution to gay and lesbian literature.

Author Biography

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.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Welcome to Dyke Life: An Introduction	1	(18)
Karla Jay
Part I: Relating to Others
Are We Family? Lesbians and Families of Origin	19	(17)
Laura S. Brown
An Afternoon with My If-There-Were-a-Laws	23	(4)
Judy MacLean
At Home	27	(6)
Terri de la Pena
A New Political Twist	33	(3)
Del Martin
Phyllis Lyon
Finding a ``Word for Myself'': Themes in Lesbian Coming-Out Stories	36	(14)
Jessica F. Morris
Amy J. Ojerholm
Teri M. Brooks
Dana M. Osowiecki
Esther D. Rothblum
What I Should Have Said	45	(5)
Deborah Perkins
At the Crossroads: Lesbian Youth	50	(11)
Joyce Hunter
GWF ISO	55	(6)
Kelly Jo Woodside
Lesbian Baby Boomers at Midlife	61	(16)
Esther D. Rothblum
Beth Mintz
D. Brookes Cowan
Cheryl Haller
It Is a Large Future	65	(4)
Lauren Crux
The Start of Something Big	69	(4)
Paula Martinac
Circles and Rings: A Woman's Ritual	73	(4)
Sandra Butler
We Never Promised You Role Models	77	(20)
Jear ne Adleman
RV Life Begins at Seventy	87	(10)
Shevy Healey
Part II: Relating to Each Other
Lesbian Couples	97	(10)
Beverly A. Greene
About Being an Old Lesbian in Love	99	(3)
Mary Meigs
Breaking Up	102	(3)
Tee A. Corinne
Bridge	105	(2)
Jean Swallow
Procrasti-dating	107	(4)
Jacqueline Lapidus
Lesbian Marriage Ceremonies: I Do	111	(16)
Kitty Tsui
June Brides	119	(8)
E. J. Graff
Our Relationships and Their Laws	127	(14)
Ruthann Robson
What's Race Got to Do with It?	141	(8)
Paula Ross
Creating Lesbian Families	149	(21)
Heather Conrad
Kate Colwell
To Mother or Not to Mother	157	(13)
Sylvia Blackstone
Our Children and Their Laws	170	(4)
Ruthann Robson
Lesbian Parenting: Radical or Retrograde?	174	(21)
Sondra Segal-Sklar
Pride and Prejudice	177	(4)
Janet Linder
Mother of Stephen	181	(3)
Louise G. Whitney
Public Schools/Private Lives	184	(11)
Beth Rosen
Part III: Sex and Gender Identity
Clit Notes	195	(21)
Marny Hall
Psychic Armor	199	(3)
Judith P. Stelboum
Body Piercing	202	(5)
Yemaya KauriAlecto
Confessions of a Lesbian Vampire	207	(5)
Amanda Kovattana
My First Dildo	212	(4)
Slick Harris
Safer Sex	216	(5)
Marcia Munson
My First Lover	219	(2)
Betty Rose Dudley
Guessing Games	221	(26)
Kath Weston
WYSIWYG (What You See Isn't What You Get)	228	(19)
Rini Das
Butch Mothers, Femme Bull Dykes: Dismantling Our Own Stereotypes	247	(10)
JoAnn Loulan
Double Trouble	257	(3)
Leslea Newman
Black Lace Hairbow	260	(5)
Greta Gaard
Part IV: The Public World
Lesbians in Corporate America	265	(17)
Maria De La O
Tales of a Suburban Columnist	273	(9)
Amanda Kovattana
She Tickles with a Hammer	282	(13)
Donna Allegra
Something About Pride	289	(6)
Shelley Anderson
Outing and the Politics of the Closet	295	(18)
Victoria A. Brownworth
``Oy Veh, the Judge on the Bench Is a Dyke!''	299	(3)
Hon. Paul J. Hepner
Something Snapped	302	(3)
Lee Lynch
San Francisco Spice Rack	305	(8)
Anna Livia
Part V: The Lesbian Body
Health Care Issues	313	(19)
Karen F. Kerner
After the First Visit	319	(3)
Margaret Robison
Another Story	322	(5)
Victoria A. Brownworth
A Letter from Anita	327	(5)
Kitty Tsui
Outlaws and Addicts: Lesbians and the Recovery Movement	332	(12)
Jane Futcher
Who Cares? Lesbians As Caregivers	344	(19)
Jeannine DeLombard
The Dog, the Cat, and the Activist	353	(10)
Emily Rosenberg
Contributors' Notes	363