Reading Adrienne Rich's essay, it is clear that she assumes that every woman experiences compulsory heterosexuality and that lesbianism is synonymous with any relationship between women, be they of romantic or sexual nature or not. To draw on this observation, one can identify that Rich's notion of compulsory heterosexuality goes hand in hand with the phenomenon of political lesbianism. This concept stems from radical feminist thought and describes the belief that heterosexuality can be equated with male violence which can be solved only through abstinence for both sexes or advocated lesbian relationships (cf. Bryson, 2003: 187). Sexuality is further perceived as conditioned by a patriarchal culture and thus demands sexual autonomy and fulfilment
