Inspired by her own struggles with understanding her sexuality, she started researching compulsory heterosexuality and set out to help other lesbians like herself. In fact, the document was written by Angeli Luz, who was a teenager at the time she wrote it. Not only is it available for public reading on Google, but it does an effective job at explaining ideas that may otherwise seem daunting or abstract to a young audience. It should also be mentioned that access is an important factor when it comes to the Lesbian Masterdoc’s success. There were several points/truths there that made me just break down in tears. It helped me immensely, and answered a lot of questions I never could find a satisfactory answer for. After encountering the document, one Reddit user wrote: “Thank you so much for this. The popularity of the Lesbian Masterdoc goes to show that many people have not asked themselves these questions before, which means its impact can be significant and even life-changing. Some examples are: “I do not like the reality of men, I only like the idea of being with men” and “You get crushes on just about any guy you’re friendly with because there’s really no difference between friendships and crushes to you.” The document includes an extensive list of signs to look out for as well as statements that may resonate with you. It aims to help you interrogate your attraction to men in order to fully understand your sexual identity. These struggles are the reason why so many have found comfort in the Lesbian Masterdoc. Their very existence goes against society’s expectations for what romantic and sexual relationships look like and so they are led to question the authenticity of their feelings towards women. The result is that many are made to believe they are heterosexual when that is not the case.Įven people who already identify as lesbians are affected by compulsory heterosexuality. Under the patriarchy, it is only natural that you mistake your feelings for men as attraction or that it takes time to recognise your attraction to women at all. “Compulsory heterosexuality is what forces lesbians to struggle through learning the difference between what you’ve been taught you want (being with men) and what you do want (being with women),” reads the Lesbian Masterdoc. But when women are continuously fed the idea that their purpose is to please men, the question that remains is what happens when a woman loves other women. The all-too-familiar trope is that women are meant to want male attention as they hold the key to their happiness. But the reality is a world where women’s sexualities are defined by their relationship to men. The ideal of the nuclear family and the white picket fence is repeated in media, film, television, fashion, beauty, and advertising. This theory builds on the idea that you are socialised to assume you are heterosexual until proven otherwise. The introduction to the document details the meaning of ‘compulsory heterosexuality’, a term that was popularised by Adrienne Rich in the 1980s. Divided into nine sections, each made up of straightforward explanations and bullet points, it aims to help you find an answer to the burning question: Am I a lesbian? Or rather: How do I distinguish my actual attraction from the socially conditioned wish to be desired by men? The best way to describe the Lesbian Masterdoc is as a supportive guide to navigating the complex reality of understanding your sexuality as a woman. But what exactly is it and what makes it so groundbreaking? The 30-page document was first shared anonymously on Tumblr, and more recently, went viral on TikTok. This is far from the basic “Am I gay?” quiz.Ĭhances are that, sometime over the past year, you have heard the mention of the Lesbian Masterdoc either in a subreddit, a reblogged post, or on your #ForYouPage. Praised by young women questioning their attraction to men, the Am I a Lesbian Masterdoc is a helpful tool dedicated to dismantling compulsory heterosexuality. DIVA takes a deep dive into this viral sensation BY MARTINE HESS
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