Lesbians English 2026

'Bracing, nourishing and wonderfully pro-woman' Victoria Smith, author of Hags

'A big-hearted, infuriating, clever and highly entertaining read, just like the woman who wrote it' Kathleen Stock, author of Material Girls

'Personal, passionate memoir-cum-cultural commentary' New Statesman

'Excellent ... Discursive and engaging' Susanna Rustin, author of Sexed: A History of British Feminism

What does it mean to be a lesbian now? Has the quest for lesbian liberation stalled, and if so, why?

Part-memoir, part frontline reportage and part cultural commentary, Julie Bindel examines what defines lesbian culture, love, friendship and happiness today. She distinguishes the particular challenges facing lesbians from the very different experiences of gay men, and asks: why do lesbians so often seem to face particular hostility? Comparing past attitudes to today, she argues that lesbians continue to suffer from bigotry and discrimination because sexism and enforced gendered roles are still left unchallenged. She explores why many of the biggest assaults on lesbian freedom and wellbeing around the world now come, not just from conservatives, but also from so-called progressives, who are often antagonistic to lesbians organising and socialising autonomously.

Rooted in her own remarkable story, this personal and passionate book is both an investigation into the obstacles to lesbian flourishing, and a testament to the particular delights of being a lesbian.