In her 1980 essay "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence," Rich coined the term "compulsory heterosexuality" to describe the societal pressure on women to be heterosexual and pursue relationships with men. She argued that this pressure is not natural, but rather a social construct designed to maintain male dominance and patriarchy. Rich's work on compulsory heterosexuality helped to shape feminist and queer theory by highlighting the importance of understanding the ways in which gender, sexuality, and power intersect.

Also in her 1980 essay "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence,", Rich introduced the concept of the "lesbian continuum" to describe the spectrum of female relationships that exist between friendship and sexual relationships. She argued that these relationships were often overlooked or devalued by society, but that they could provide a source of strength and community for women. This idea has been influential in feminist and queer theory by challenging the idea of binary sexualities and promoting a more fluid understanding of sexuality and relationships.

Rich was also a proponent of the idea that personal experience and location shape one's understanding of the world and the social issues within it. She believed that it was important to consider one's positionality and intersectionality when engaging with political and social issues. This idea has been influential in queer and feminist theory by promoting the importance of acknowledging and valuing diverse perspectives and experiences.

Adrienne Rich's "The Politics of Naming" is an essay that explores the power dynamics at play in the act of naming. Rich argues that naming is not a neutral act, but rather a way of exerting power over people and things. She contends that the language we use to describe ourselves and others can either reinforce or challenge dominant power structures.

In the context of queer theory, "The Politics of Naming" has particular relevance for discussions of identity. Rich argues that the language we use to describe ourselves is deeply entwined with our sense of self and our relationship to power. For LGBTQ+ individuals, this can be particularly fraught, as dominant culture has historically denied them the ability to name themselves on their own terms.

Rich argues that in order to challenge dominant power structures, it is important for marginalized communities to reclaim language and name themselves on their own terms. She advocates for the use of language that reflects the complexity and diversity of human experience, rather than reducing people to simplistic categories.