Homosexuality within the 17th and 18th centuries might appear like a tough find, and though I had to do some digging to produce this anthology, same-sex love is not unique to the 21st century. This anthology contains poems from, about, and appealing to lesbians within the 17th and 18th centuries.

Within these pages you will discover that there are many different forms of same-sex love, to include platonic soul bonding, sexual yearning, and romantic longing.

Homosexuality, and lesbians in particular, has been long overlooked, swept under the metaphorical rug woven with homophobia and sexism. This discrimination allows important queer history to become unrecognizable and hard to reach. The homoerotic archives reveal a distinct link between lesbian love and proto-feminism, in which women reject the patriarchal norms of marriage.

This anthology analyzes such works based on progressing levels of women’s sexuality in the 17th and 18th century: friendship, romance, sex, and satire. Without considering these works, and many more that have yet to properly shine since they were written, queer literature will always take the backseat.

I use lesbian not simply as an adjective for these women poets, but because they are lesbian poets. When thinking of women in the long 18th century, people remember romantic friendships. The problem is that the connotation can be skewed, either weaponized against women loving women or not acknowledging the importance of such companionship. I am here to shatter that notion into tiny little pieces, and by putting each shard back together piece by piece, you will discover that there is more than meets the eye when uncovering the truth about women loving women.

If we are so worried about alleged historical inaccuracies in prescribing identity to earlier centuries, why is it that we do not learn of these poems or poets in class? Why are such beautiful writers left out of the conversation?

These are the lesbians you have never heard of.

This anthology must begin with pertinent background information on lesbian history and the persuasion of its existence through the etymology of words concerning women loving women. The Oxford English Dictionary shows the history of 10 terms involving sexual intercourse between women, romantic attraction between women, or a combination of both, beginning in the late 16th century, and evolving throughout the 17th and 18th century.

The first recorded instance is in 1553 with the term "sapphic," meaning of, relating to, engaging in, or characterized by sexual activity between women or female same-sex desire.

Next, in 1585 with the term “tribade,” meaning a woman who engages in sexual activity with other women. This word might be recognized by the 1811 term “tribadism” or “tribbing,” modernly referred to as “scissoring,” when women rub their vulvas together, as the root “tribas” is Greek for rubbing. This term was documented four times in known publications.

A similar word sprouted in 1607 and recorded only once, “fricatrice,” a woman who engages in sexual activity involving genital contact with other women, but also used to annotate a lesbian prostitute. This term stems from the Latin word “fricare,” which also means to rub.

In 1657 the term “rubster” came about and annotated twice within the 17th century, and again, a woman who engages in sexual activity involving genital contact with other women.

In 1732, the famed “lesbian” came about, a woman who engages in sexual activity with other women; a woman who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women.

From there, “tommy” was recorded three times in the 18th century with the first instance being 1773, a woman who is romantically attracted to or sexually active with other women.

To round out the 18th century, 1789s “sapphist” was recorded only once within a diary entry, meaning a woman who engages in sexual activity with other women, or who is sexually or romantically attracted to other women. Similiarly, in 1795, "sapphism" meaning sexual activity between women; female same-sex desire; the state or fact of being a lesbian, lesbianism

The last term used, though not currently accepted by the OED, is “flats,” meaning lesbian sexual intercourse in a particular “game of flats” and recorded by Green’s Dictionary of Slang eleven times between 1652 and 1786.

Popular queer/feminist theorist Judith Butler opts to use the term “lesbian-like,” and though I understand this stance “As a new way of thinking about the past, "lesbian-like" might both enrich lesbian history and reform women's history," I find it more constructive to say lesbian. This term simply caters to the same heterosexist theorists she claims to detest. Her point in using this term is to show resemblance of the modern lesbian to the woman of the past, the woman with homoerotic desire.

By calling these poets lesbians, we recognize the struggles and love they endured, while empowering a future generation of theorists to acknowledge an inconsistency of their predecessors. I also disagree with Marie Loughlin’s decision to use more neutral descriptors, such as ‘homoerotic’,- ‘same-sex erotic relationships’, and ‘same-sex erotic love.’” In defense of this choice, Loughlin argues that, “although these phrases are sometimes awkward, this drawback is outweighed by their usefulness in constantly reminding the reader of the historical and cultural specificity of such relationships, acts, and desires.”

As modern theorists and historians, we must begin to change the dynamic of our findings, proposing things as we know them to be, not as they have been. I also find myself resentful as to not acknowledge bisexuality, and it is not my intention to contribute to bi-erasure, being bisexual myself, but it is certainly possible some of these women were bisexual (specifically in reference to Aphra Behn, who is popularly theorized as a bisexual). It is also possible many of these women would not have identified as women if they had today's knowledge and support, whether being trans-men or non-binary.

You might wonder, especially after learning of the fabulous lesbian anthologies put together by Faderman, Castle, Loughlin, and Norton, why would I take on such a seemingly tedious and “overplayed” task? Well, in a year’s worth of research, digging laboriously into the depths of the internet, I stumbled upon these by mere coincidence. Additionally, they are difficult to gain access to, depending on your school’s library subscriptions or your financial status. These mainly physical anthologies are also unique, and I have found poems on my own time that these authors do not address. Whether you are curious about lesbians or poems from the 17th and 18th centuries, or simply need to fulfill an assignment, here is this exclusively online anthology for all of your sapphic needs.

Audre Lorde (1934-1992) is cited as the first Black lesbian poet, who published in the late 1960s. I cannot and will not deny the existence of lesbian Poets of Color in the time frame I am researching, but I have not uncovered their works, besides the existence of lesbian nun Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (17th Century). This is a significant erasure of history we must recognize, and do better to anthologize lesbian poets in the future.

In the 17th century, societal norms and legal structures across Europe and its colonies were deeply patriarchal, constraining the roles and rights of women. Women were primarily expected to fulfill domestic duties, marrying at a young age to bear children and manage households. Their opportunities for education and employment were limited, with few avenues for economic independence. However, this century also witnessed shifts in attitudes towards women's roles, particularly in intellectual and artistic circles where some women found opportunities for expression and creativity.

17th century - Wikipedia

Age of Enlightenment - Wikipedia

17th Century Timeline, 1600 Through 1699 (thoughtco.com)

Records of homosexuality in 17th century England - Untold lives blog

From LGBT to LGBTQIA+: The evolving recognition of identity (nationalgeographic.com)

In the 18th century, women continued to grapple with the constraints of patriarchal societies across Europe and its colonies. Traditional gender roles persisted, relegating women primarily to domestic spheres with limited access to formal education and professional opportunities. However, this period also saw the emergence of Enlightenment ideals that advocated for greater equality and individual rights, sparking discussions about women's roles in society. Influential thinkers such as Mary Wollstonecraft argued for women's education and rights, laying the groundwork for future feminist movements. Despite these intellectual advancements, legal and social barriers often hindered women's ability to fully participate in public life or pursue careers outside the home.

LGBT rights in the 18th century - Wikipedia

The 18th Century Lesbian Icons Everyone Assumed Were Just Close Gal Pals (vice.com)

Lesbian love and coded diaries: the remarkable story of Anne Lister | Art UK

Lesbianism In The Eighteenth Century (umich.edu)

"The Century of Sex? Gender, Bodies, and Sexuality in the Long Eighteenth Century"

There is symmetrical beauty in applying the thought process of a queer person in the 21st century to the historical haze of the 17th and 18th centuries. While I significantly appreciate the “objective” work that has been done and has paved the way for me to take on this project, it is unsatisfying to not use the terms and media of modern day when thinking of past lesbians.

List of LGBTQIA+ Terms: Glossary and Resources | Psych Central

List of LGBTQ+ terms (stonewall.org.uk)

1. Protofeminism (Not officially recognized): Early challenges to patriarchal norms, often led by individual thinkers like Mary Wollstonecraft, advocating for women's rights and education, though not yet organized as a cohesive movement.
2. First Wave 19th Century: Formal emergence of feminist movements primarily focused on women's suffrage and legal rights in the 19th and early 20th centuries, marked by achievements such as the suffrage movement in the United States and the UK.
3. Second Wave 1960s/1970s: A resurgence of feminist activism in the mid-20th century, addressing broader issues such as reproductive rights, workplace equality, and cultural attitudes towards women, often associated with figures like Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem.
4. Third Wave 1990s: A continuation and expansion of feminist ideologies to include greater diversity and intersectionality, addressing issues like race, class, and sexuality, with emphasis on individual empowerment and varied forms of activism.
5. Fourth Wave 2010s-Present (Heavily Debated): A contemporary wave characterized by digital activism, social media, and ongoing debates over inclusivity, intersectionality, and the evolving nature of feminism in response to contemporary challenges and social dynamics.

I have created a set of categories that is conducive to the historical context and meaning behind each poem. The poems from the 17th and 18th centuries cannot be bound by a single category, and they typically fall under many simultaneously. 

• Platonic Soul Bonding or Romantic Friendships
  • This refers to the idea of companionship that is not explicitly sexual, and often showcases the blending of souls between the women in an intellectual sense.
• Sexual or The exploration of the female body
  • This is for the explicit sexual nature between women.
• Protofeminism or Women evading cultural norms
  • Specifically tackling the issues women faced, not to be confused with the feminist wave itself.
• Male Fantasy or A Man’s Satirical Take
  • This refers to the unfathomable idea of women loving women more than men.
• Transgender Poets or “Gender Panic” 
  • This category is not yet utilized in this anthology, besides references in the timeline and the home page. This refers to women who have socially transitioned, typically for the purposes of safety and independence.
  • The modern definition of lesbian means women or non-men with attraction to women or non-men.

Queer Liberation Library - OverDrive

Home (lesbiansovereverything.com)

Lesbian Anthologies (64 books) (goodreads.com)

Lesbian History (rictornorton.co.uk)

Archive | Lesbian Poetry Archive

History of lesbianism - Wikipedia

LGBTQ Rights Timeline in American History » Teaching LGBTQ History

Sexual Perversions, 1670–1890

Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast Episode 186 - Poetry about Love between Women from the 18th Century | Alpennia

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: Nun who loved a countess in 17th-century Mexico City (qspirit.net)

Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive / Home (eighteenthcenturypoetry.org)

“Women Becoming Poets: Katherine Philips, Aphra Behn, Anne Finch”

Lesbian Poems From 12 Great Lesbian Poets | Once Upon a Journey (onceuponajrny.com)

https://bookstr.com/article/sapphic-sonnets-celebrating-lesbian-love-in-poetry/