Lesistenzialismo

Lesistenzialismo is a neologism used to describe a strand of thought that centers existentialist questions within lesbian experiences. The term blends 'les' (for lesbian) with forms of existentialism found in languages such as Italian (esistenzialismo) or Spanish/Portuguese (existencialismo), signaling a focus on how freedom, authenticity, and choice are negotiated under social norms of sexuality.

Usage is limited and uneven; it appears mostly in queer theory and feminist philosophy discussions, as a way to articulate how existential themes—alienation, responsibility, contingency—are experienced and interpreted by lesbian lived realities.

Key concerns include challenging essentialist views of sexuality, foregrounding agency in the face of oppression, and examining the social construction of gender and desire.

Methodologically, proponents often combine existential and phenomenological analysis with queer theory, literary critique, and autobiographical narrative.

Criticism notes that the term is not widely recognized in mainstream philosophy, and some observers warn against over-generalizing the experiences of diverse lesbian communities or diluting existentialist tradition.

See also: Existentialism, Queer theory, Feminist philosophy, Lesbian studies.