Lesbian ethics: Beginning remarks

Abstract

While we have questioned patriarchal politics, we have not questioned patriachal ethics. This paper comes from the introduction of my forthcoming book, Lesbian Ethics: Toward New Value (Institute of Lesbian Studies, P.O. Box 60242, Palo Alto, CA 94306, U.S.A.), and lays the groundwork for the challenge to patriarchal ethics I pose: I argue that the concept ‘lesbian’ is connected in important ways to the idea of female agency. I suggest the function of traditional ethics is social control and that we might instead focus on the development of individual moral agency and integrity. I discuss the use of language in structuring reality and trapping us in oppression. And finally I discuss the directions my work takes.