Lesbian Nation

Lesbian Nation: The Feminist Solution

Author	Jill Johnston
Subject	Lesbian feminism, Separatist feminism
Publisher	Simon & Schuster
Publication date	1973
Pages	283 pp.
ISBN	ISBN 0-671-21433-0
OCLC	627573

Lesbian Nation: The Feminist Solution is a 1973 book by the radical lesbian feminist author and cultural critic Jill Johnston. The book was originally published as a series of essays featured in The Village Voice from 1969 to 1972.

Thesis

In the book Johnston outlines her vision of radical lesbian feminism. She argues in favor of lesbian separatism, writing that women should make a total break from men and male-dominated capitalist institutions. Johnston also wrote that female heterosexuality was a form of collaboration with patriarchy. Writing in the Gay & Lesbian Review in 2007 Johnston summarized her views -

Once I understood the feminist doctrines, a lesbian separatist position seemed the commonsensical position, especially since, conveniently, I was an L-person. Women wanted to remove their support from men, the ‘enemy’ in a movement for reform, power and self-determination.”

Reception

Becki L. Ross wrote the book The House That Jill Built: A Lesbian Nation in Formation, which analyzes the history of the lesbian feminist movement.

Contents

Tarzana from the trees of cocktails -- A series of great escapes -- There wasn't a dyke in the land -- A nice well-behaved fucked-up person -- Love at first sex -- Slouching toward consciousness -- Lesbian feminism -- The making of a lesbian chauvinist -- The myth of the myth of the vaginal orgasm -- The second sucks & the feminine mystake -- Woman prime -- Record book entries -- Amazons and archedykes.