The article examines critico-theoretical orthodoxies in relation to Lawrence's oeuvre. The debate between mainstream Lawrence critics and the feminist camp in respect to Lawrence's sexual the-ory is addressed. 'Literary politics,' and the growing movement among feminists to discredit Lawrence because of his apparent misogynist theories, is the central issue of this paper. I argue that it is correct to abhor Lawrence's theory of "phallic authority" and find it inappropriate that the established critical posture has been to ignore feminist response. Also, feminist framing, discourse, and technique, as well as male-orientated critical postures, are discussed.