--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It iscrucial that we understand…" description: "\"It iscrucial that we understand lesbian/feminism in the deepest, most radical sense: as that love for ourselves and other women, that commitment to the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/adrienne-rich-803_asking_it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian_1086243.jpg" --- # It iscrucial that we understand lesbian/feminism in the… ![“It iscrucial that we understand lesbian/feminism in the deepest, most radical sense: as that love for ourselves and other women, that commitment to the freedom of all of us, which transcends the category of "sexual preference" and the issue of civil rights, to become a politics of asking women's…” quote by Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/adrienne-rich-803_asking_it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian_1086243.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/adrienne-rich-803_asking_it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian_1086243.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/adrienne-rich-803_asking_it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian_1086243.jpg) > “It iscrucial that we understand lesbian/feminism in the deepest, most radical sense: as that love for ourselves and other women, that commitment to the freedom of all of us, which transcends the category of "sexual preference" and the issue of civil rights, to become a politics of asking women's questions, demanding a world in which the integrity of all women--not a chosen few--shall be honored and validated in every respect of culture.” [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True feminist solidarity goes beyond sexual labels, seeking universal freedom and validation for all women. **In simple terms:** Feminism as universal love and freedom. Key Takeaway Support inclusive, radical feminist politics. Themes feminism solidarity freedom Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical political When to use this quote - activism - education - policy making - community building Key Concepts intersectionality radical love political theory Questions to Reflect On - How can we expand feminist movements to include all women? - What obstacles arise when redefining “sexual preference”? A Different Perspective The concept can be contested by those who view gender issues as purely sexual. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Categories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/categories/) [Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminism Deepest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism-deepest-2784404/) [Honored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honored/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Lesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesbian/) [Lesbian Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesbian-feminism-2784405/) [Preference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preference/) [Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Understand Lesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-lesbian-2784406/) [Women Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-commitment-1384457/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I’m glad mainstream culture is starting to catch up to where lesbian-feminism was 30 years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/i-m-glad-mainstream-culture-is-starting-to-catch-up-to-where-lesbian/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [“Perhaps rage was an inextricable part of lesbian-feminism, because once these women analyzed the female's position in society they realized they had much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-faderman/perhaps-rage-was-an-inextricable-part-of-lesbian-feminism-because/) [Lillian Faderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-faderman/) > [Men are distinguished from women by their commitment to do violence rather than to be victimized by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/men-are-distinguished-from-women-by-their-commitment-to-do-violence/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [“Most women take commitment seriously and put in heroic efforts to make things work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-parry/most-women-take-commitment-seriously-and-put-in-heroic-efforts-to/) [Robin Parry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-parry/) > [I would certainly never suggest that any lesbian should be ashamed of her sexual preference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-certainly-never-suggest-that-any-lesbian-should-be-ashamed-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When some drunken fool asked if she was a lesbian, she would say, 'In everything but sexual preference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/when-some-drunken-fool-asked-if-she-was-a-lesbian-she-would-say-in/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [A Lesbian who consents to guilt for her sexual preference is her own worst oppressor. She accepts and internalizes prejudices and uses them against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-abbott/a-lesbian-who-consents-to-guilt-for-her-sexual-preference-is-her-own/) [Sidney Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-abbott/) > [It is the lesbian in us who is creative, for the dutiful daughter of the fathers in us is only a hack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/it-is-the-lesbian-in-us-who-is-creative-for-the-dutiful-daughter-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The suppressed lesbian I had been carrying in me since adolescence began to stretch her limbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-suppressed-lesbian-i-had-been-carrying-in-me-since-adolescence/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [Lesbian existence comprises both the breaking of a taboo and the rejection of a compulsory way of life. It is also a direct or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/lesbian-existence-comprises-both-the-breaking-of-a-taboo-and-the/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“It didn’t break the trance. She wasn’t sure that anything could, and briefly wondered if they’d stay like this until flesh rotted away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-morgan/it-didn-t-break-the-trance-she-wasn-t-sure-that-anything-could-and/) [Ashton Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-morgan/) > [Im not lesbian. I'm not bisexual I'm not straight I dont like labels I just love who I love and I cant help it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yankit/im-not-lesbian-i-m-not-bisexual-i-m-not-straight-i-dont-like-labels-i/) [Yankit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yankit/) > [“There comes a time in a girl’s life where she finds her heart broken, what matters is not the boy who broke it but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-lee-hunter/there-comes-a-time-in-a-girl-s-life-where-she-finds-her-heart-broken/) [Kara Lee Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-lee-hunter/) > [“It's morning now, and I miss the soft rasp of her voice already. Ugh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/it-s-morning-now-and-i-miss-the-soft-rasp-of-her-voice-already-ugh-i/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [“Now there was photographic evidence of me with a girl. Lindsey pack the camera in her duffel while I contemplated the film inside it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-m-danforth/now-there-was-photographic-evidence-of-me-with-a-girl-lindsey-pack/) [Emily M. Danforth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-m-danforth/) ## More by Adrienne Rich > [Only to have a grief equal to all these tears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/only-to-have-a-grief-equal-to-all-these-tears/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [What I search for continuously in my art is adequate language, language I hope can stand beyond any particular occasion. What I'm finding is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/what-i-search-for-continuously-in-my-art-is-adequate-language/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“Well, she's long about her coming, who must be more merciless to herself than history. Her mind full to the wind, I see her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/well-she-s-long-about-her-coming-who-must-be-more-merciless-to/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I think my work comes out of both an intense desire for connection and what it means to feel isolated. There's always going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-my-work-comes-out-of-both-an-intense-desire-for-connection/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [Popular culture entered my life as Shirley Temple, who was exactly my age and wrotea letter in the newspapers telling how her mother fixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/popular-culture-entered-my-life-as-shirley-temple-who-was-exactly-my/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [... in a history of spiritual rupture, a social compact built on fantasy and collective secrets, poetry becomes more necessary than ever: it keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/in-a-history-of-spiritual-rupture-a-social-compact-built-on-fantasy/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [It's as if, in the mother's eyes, her smile, her stroking touch, the child first reads the message:'You are there!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/it-s-as-if-in-the-mother-s-eyes-her-smile-her-stroking-touch-the/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The women's movement appeared at a very crucial moment in my life. There was a whole political movement asking such questions and others I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-women-s-movement-appeared-at-a-very-crucial-moment-in-my-life/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The word revolution itself has become not only a dead relic of Leftism, but a key to the deadendedness of male politics: the revolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-word-revolution-itself-has-become-not-only-a-dead-relic-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The decision to feed the world is the real decision. No revolution has chosen it. For that choice requires that women shall be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-decision-to-feed-the-world-is-the-real-decision-no-revolution-has/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The necessity of poetry has to be stated over and over, but only to those who have reason to fear its power, or those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-necessity-of-poetry-has-to-be-stated-over-and-over-but-only-to/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I think many poets, including myself, write both for the voice and for the page. I certainly write for the person alone in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-many-poets-including-myself-write-both-for-the-voice-and-for/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible. Only she who says she did not choose, is the loser in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel-not-responsible-only-she-who/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) [Explore all 364 Adrienne Rich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It iscrucial that we understand lesbian/feminism in the deepest, most radical sense: as that love for ourselves and other women, that commitment to the freedom of all of us, which transcends the category of \"sexual preference\" and the issue of civil rights, to become a politics of asking women's questions, demanding a world in which the integrity of all women--not a chosen few--shall be honored and validated in every respect of culture.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adrienne Rich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian-feminism-in-the-deepest-most/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian-feminism-in-the-deepest-most/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/adrienne-rich-803_asking_it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian_1086243.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/adrienne-rich-803_asking_it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian_1086243.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/adrienne-rich-803_asking_it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian_1086243.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It iscrucial that we understand lesbian/feminism in the deepest, most radical sense: as that love for…” — Adrienne Rich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adrienne Rich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It iscrucial that we understand lesbian/feminism...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian-feminism-in-the-deepest-most/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/it-iscrucial-that-we-understand-lesbian-feminism-in-the-deepest-most/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```