Boston Marriages
This collection of theoretical essays and personal stories is not just about "Boston marriages," a term referring to two women in a nonsexual but nonetheless deeply committed relationship. As the book so well concludes, there is no language for this type of relationship, not just for lesbians but for anyone--gay, straight, male, or female--who relates to others outside the traditional roles of friend, lover, spouse, or relative. Living in a society that invalidates a love that has not been...
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Introduction: Why focus on romantic but asexual relationships among lesbians?3Early memories, current realities14Coming to consciousness: Some reflections on the Boston marriage19Nineteenth-century Boston marriage as a possible lesson for today29"Why limit me to ecstasy?" Toward a positive model of genital incidentalism among friends and other lovers43Celibacy62Lesbian courtship scripts70The Boston marriage in the therapy office86What's sex got to do with it?99When we were whatever we were: Whatever it was that we had109She will never have the access to the total person that I have124We've had a lot of history under our beltsPt. IAngie132Pt. IICedar138Cast of Characters141"I think it has to do with the fact that I love her"148We have bliss157A Boston engagement164Television and books and just people talking make it seem that there is more sex going on than there really is!174Is sex a natural function? Implications for sex therapy187A matter of language194So what is a "Boston marriage" anyway?202Notes on contributors209
\ Library JournalThis collection of theoretical essays and personal stories is not just about ``Boston marriages,'' a term referring to two women in a nonsexual but nonetheless deeply committed relationship. As the book so well concludes, there is no language for this type of relationship, not just for lesbians but for anyone--gay, straight, male, or female--who relates to others outside the traditional roles of friend, lover, spouse, or relative. Living in a society that invalidates a love that has not been sexually validated, the women subjects of this book speak passionately about relationships they have kept hidden even from their own lesbian community; the essays by well-known writers in the area of lesbian studies pale in comparison. This book's apparently specific nature should not deter academics and others interested in the study of human relationships. For academic libraries and women's studies collections.-- Patricia Sarles, Brooklyn P.L.\ \
