Boston Marriages by Esther D. Rothblum

Boston Marriages

Romantic but Asexual Relationships Among Contemporary Lesbians

Esther D. Rothblum

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 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.

Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

For decades, the term ‘Boston marriage’ was used to describe single women who lived together and shared their lives. The presumption was that these partnerships were non-sexual. In recent years, however, the opposite presumption has prevailed, causing some women involved in Boston marriages to hide the asexual nature of their relationship from the lesbian community. Convinced 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 therefore 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 lesbianism? What constitutes a romantic involvement? If a couple does not engage in sex, are they still considered lovers? The study 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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