ABSTRACT
The shortcomings of both the objectivist and identity senses of culture seem to create a dilemma for lesbian theory, for the objectivist theorist can pick out any set of social activities shared by individuals and label that a "culture," regardless of whether the participants accept that designation. Lesbian historian Judy Grahn tends to equate any same-sex activity, whether by men or women, with a challenge to patriarchy. The idea of gay and lesbian as distinctive, historically developed identities connects to the identity sense of culture discussed earlier. Though the discontinuity approach to lesbian identity is helpful in understanding the unique aspects of contemporary women's history, some of the political appropriations of this approach are problematic. Barbara Ponse presents a related critique of discontinuity theory of lesbian identity. The dialectical approach focuses on lesbian cultures that are, or have the potential to be, oppositional subcultures, that rise or continue as a feminist practice of resistance in a primarily patriarchal society.
