Well, it's official...
Jun. 13th, 2008 12:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
highlyeccentricI'm going to start doing a bit of research now... for 'fun'... and I spoke to the Vice-Principal, and once my thesis is out of the way, I'm going to start some serious research into Louisa MacDonald and her lesbian partner. I'll have to get permission from the Principal to access the archives, and talk to her biographer, and read some Queer Theory, and all kinds of strange stuff.
Nevertheless, I'm going to try to produce an academic paper on Louisa MacDonald- 19th Century Australia's best paid lesbian.
Because, y'know, I'm not going crazy enough as it is. And because a medieval philologist is obviously the best person to do modern australian queer/feminist history.
It's just that I'd rather we mistake a courageous straight woman for a courageous lesbian than not talk about it at all, for fear of her (our) 'reputation'. It doesn't much matter if they were in a sexual relationship or not- clearly, Louisa knew she wanted this woman with her for the rest of her life, and she was in the unique social and economic position to say 'come with me'. And she had the courage to do so, despite knowing that 'Dick' would cause trouble and raise eyebrows wherever they went...
I can't just let that pass. Could you?
Nevertheless, I'm going to try to produce an academic paper on Louisa MacDonald- 19th Century Australia's best paid lesbian.
Because, y'know, I'm not going crazy enough as it is. And because a medieval philologist is obviously the best person to do modern australian queer/feminist history.
It's just that I'd rather we mistake a courageous straight woman for a courageous lesbian than not talk about it at all, for fear of her (our) 'reputation'. It doesn't much matter if they were in a sexual relationship or not- clearly, Louisa knew she wanted this woman with her for the rest of her life, and she was in the unique social and economic position to say 'come with me'. And she had the courage to do so, despite knowing that 'Dick' would cause trouble and raise eyebrows wherever they went...
I can't just let that pass. Could you?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 04:52 am (UTC)Holy moley I'm so excited. This is fascinating.
[Also, I assume that's a different John Ward, right? Don't scare me like that!]
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 07:08 am (UTC)I'm excitified!
it's the arrogance of the honours student. 'hmm, that thing needs research. Hey, i can do research!'
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 07:11 am (UTC)Go go gadget research!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 12:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 12:47 pm (UTC)