Who is the subject of lesbianity? Contributions from Monique Wittig, Judith Butler and Vir Cano

Abstract

This article aims to explore possible answers to the question of who the subject of lesbianity would be, drawing on the thought of Monique Wittig, Judith Butler, and Vir Cano. The contributions of these authors make it possible to understand lesbianities as an unstable, fluid, and politically potent category, constantly being reconfigured and contested. By critically articulating these three theoretical frameworks, this discussion highlights the possibility of a more plural and open understanding of lesbian identities – one that not only challenges hierarchies of gender and sexuality but also broadens the horizons of recognition and belonging. In light of the current political backlash and the resurgence of essentialist perspectives that employ supposedly biological arguments to define identities and practices, within both activism and Lesbian Theory, revisiting pioneering studies and emphasizing their disruptive potential becomes a crucial step in constructing a theoretical toolkit to confront conservative and restrictive conceptions of lesbian identity.