Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The sexualization of (femme) lesbians.


While homophobia is one of the pulsing, infectious organs of patriarchy, there is a definite loop-hole when it comes to "hot" lesbians.

The flux of girl-on-girl porn (assuming they're long-haired, skinny, large-breasted with high-pitched moans to top it off) permeates our world every single day, every single minute by a whole lot of people. Porn is a huge determinant of the way people (especially men) perceive women, the social grounds on which they can interact with them, and definitely affects their own sex lives.
A guy sees a (usually) femme couple at a bar, for example and says to himself 'Yeah, that's alright' (even 'Mmm...') as if it doesn't count as gay because they're both good looking and he's getting a good feeling out of it - at the very least.
Teenage girls all over the place are claiming to be bi-sexual simply for the purpose that it will help them get the guy whose attention they just can't seem to grab. (Not to say that there aren't teenage girls that are actually legitimately bisexual). This sort of bi-sexuality can be defined as drunk making out with other drunk friends while stopping a few times to giggle so nobody around you, nor the two of you actually act like you're doing it because you're enjoying it (god forbid). Even children who've been on the earth for just over a decade have identified that this is something men like/want/desire!
One time I was at a shady strip club and there was a girl on stage, just doing her thing and still had her panties on. The audience wasn't being super attentive at the moment and one of the other strippers hopped on stage and started touching the performer and ended up pulling the performer's panties off with her teeth.
I mean see - I caught you. Your attention span just went up at least one notch or you feel a little tickle in your belly.
But this is exactly what I'm talking about - this disregard of homophobia in moments when the observer is enjoying themselves, when they feel comfortable. They feel like it's catering to them and not to the girls who are actually in the act.
Patriarchy says 'Of course lesbians should be dejected from regular society because they're deviant. They're alienating themselves from the heteronormative patriarchal structure.' But this is talking about lesbians behind closed doors; female couples who are in a relationship together for eachother. It even seems ridiculous to say that - of course they're in a relationship for eachother.
But on the opposite side of the same coin, patriarchy is saying 'BUT - hang on a second! If you're going to be a lesbian who will put on a show for me, then you're a goddess. You're super hot - both of you! Actually, can i have a threesome?' (Keep in mind that a threesome with two girls and a guy is considered a "threesome" while one with two guys and a girl is considered a "tag-team."
So what can we do to bust this normalized obsession and even acceptance of (usually femme) lesbian sexual activity?
Take the infatuation and admiration that you have for this cultural phenomenon and use it to reconsider all homophobia in general. All sexualities in general, actually. Encourage homonormativity.
Try really, really, really hard to come up with a point that you think validates ANYTHING about homophobia. And when you do, give me a call. I promise I'll make you feel like an idiot.
At the very least, just stop using the word 'GAY' to explain anything about your life.

2 comments:

  1. http://blog.ted.com/2009/12/cindy_gallop_ma.php

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  2. that was a really fantastic link, thanks for that.

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