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Boston Marriages: Romantic but Asexual Relationships among Contemporary Lesbians
Esther D. Rothblum and Kathleen A. BrehonyConvinced that Boston marriages are both legitimate and important, Esther D. Rothblum and Kathleen A. Brehony argue that in a society that defines intimacy by the occurrence of sexual activity, we have no word for--and thus no understanding of--the intensely romantic but asexual relationships that some lesbians form. By bringing these relationships "out of the closet" and discussing them openly, the editors and other contributors to this volume challenge our views about lesbianism and address larger questions concerning the construction of sexuality and sexual identity. How, for example, do we define a lesbian relationship? What constitutes a romantic involvement? If a couple does not engage in sex, are they still considered lovers?
This book includes ten personal accounts by women involved in Boston marriages as well as theoretical essays by Lillian Faderman, Marnie Hall, JoAnn Loulan, Suzanna Rose, Debra Zand, Marie Cini, and Laura Brown.
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Cover Page
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Copyright Page
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Table of Contents
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Introduction: Why focus on romantic but asexual relationships among lesbians?
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Early memories, current realities
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Coming to consciousness: Some reflections on the Bocton marriage
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Nineteenth-century Boston marriage as a possible lesson for today
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“Why limit me to ectasy?” Toward a positive model of genital incidentalism among friends and other lovers
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Celibacy
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Lesbian courtship scripts
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The Boston marriage in the therapy office
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What’s sex got to do with it?
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When we were whatever we were: What it was that we had
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She will never have the access to the total person that I have
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We’ve had a lot of history under our belts
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Cast of characters
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“I think it has to do with the fact that I love her"
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We have bliss
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A Boston engagement
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Television and books and just people talking make it seem that there is more sex going on than there really is!
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Discussants
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Is sex a natural function: Implications for sex therapy
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A matter of language
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So, what is a “Boston marriage” anyway
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Notes on contributors
- 9780870238765 (paperback)