Femme: Feminists, Lesbians and Bad Girls [Paperback]

Laura Harris (Editor), Elizabeth Crocker (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 041591874X | ISBN-13: 978-0415918749 | Publication Date: July 17, 1997 | Edition: First Printing

Femme seeks to redress the ways that femme identities have been elided, idealized, or not fully historicized in a productive reconsideration of lesbian and butch-femme history, of feminism, and of queer thought. As a feminist project, Femme offers an alliance between many communities of women previously passed over by feminism. Contributors: Leah Lilith Albrecht-Samarasinha, Barbara Cruikshank, Madeline Davis, Heather Findlay, Jewelle Gomez, Kelly Hankin, Leslie Henson, Amber Hollibaugh, Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy, Mabel Maney, Katherine Millersdaughter, Joan Nestle, Lisa Ortiz, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Rebecca Ann Rugg, Gaby Sandoval, Marcy Sheiner, Alex Robertson Textor.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For many homosexuals the images of the nelly queen or the butch and femme dykes generated anxiety because they too closely resembled negative stereotypes held by heterosexuals. But over the past three decades the lesbian and gay movement has made great strides in accepting a wide diversity of sexual identities and behaviors within its own ranks. Self expression became valued over perceived acceptability. In Femme, Laura Harris and Elizabeth Crocker continue this project of exploring diversity. These 18 essays, interviews, and true-life testimonies--from writers such as Joan Nestle and Jewelle Gome--look at what it has meant to be a femme lesbian living during the 20th century. At times academic, yet always accessible and readable, Femme blends political analysis, history, and stirring manifesto to give the lipstick and high-heel-wearing femme her due.

Review

Harris and Crocker's femme, newly liberatied from the butch-femme dyad, flaunts her lipstick, her sexual agency, and her association with the historical practices of women as a liberatory model. -- Sue-Ellen Case, Signs
Harris and Crocker proffer butch-femme role playing as a continuing corrective to the gendered critique of feminism. -- Sue-Ellen Case, University of California, Signs

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; First Printing edition (July 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 041591874X
• ISBN-13: 978-0415918749
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,630,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why Buy It? Because I said so!, July 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Femme: Feminists, Lesbians and Bad Girls (Hardcover)

Feminists, Lesbians, and Bad Girls alike will enjoy this book whether or not they identify as Femme. This text serves to focus attention on Femme issues and could be of use to anyone - queer, questioning, straight, etc. who is searching for a broader understanding of the topic. By that same token, it could also be a good resource for butches who are in need of a little "schooling" (you know we love you!). While I preferred the less academic contributions, the text in its entirety would be an excellent addition to any Lesbian or Women Studies class. I appreciate the editors efforts to include voices from diverse backgrounds, styles, and perspectives. I especially liked the contributions of Gaby Sandoval and Lisa Ortiz who used a more narrative, casual style and spoke of personal experiences. It is always a pleasure to read works by well-known authors, yet it is important for new voices to have a venue in which to be heard. Harris and Crocker have done a fine job mixing such a wide variety of styles. This book has something to offer everyone and is a must for Lesbian/Gay collectors.