Lesbian representation in media

submitted by [deleted] from self.Lesbians

I feel like whenever a tv show or movie wants "lgbt representation" they always go for a gay man, bi woman or trans person. It is NEVER a lesbian and if it is its always someone who is high femme like what a man would find "acceptable" (and I say this as a femme lesbian).

I wish there was more masculine lesbian representation without them being a trans person or NB.

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[–]DifferentAirGC 22 insightful - 1 fun22 insightful - 0 fun23 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

and if it is its always someone who is high femme

And she always has to date/sleep with a man at some point of the story, can't let the viewers know women can live without ever trying men.

[–][deleted] 13 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

right exactly like even that new "lesbian" christmas movie one of them is connected to a man in some way

[–]LilianH 13 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

The last "lesbian" Christmas movie I watch was Lez Bomb which had the completely unnecessary plot lines of one of the "lesbian" characters having slept with her male best friend in the past and the other being pretending to be into the creepy brother to make her girlfriend jealous.

[–]VioletRemi 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

to make her girlfriend jealous.

But if my woman will be making looks like she is into man, it would not make me jelaous, more like indefferent ("again bisexual changing for man") or disgusted ("she lied to me"). To make me jelly she should try flirting with women instead.

[–]MyLongestJourney 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

that new "lesbian" christmas movie

"Happiest season" with M.Davis and K.Stewart? Bummer if this is true.

[–]VioletRemi 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yeah, even in "lesbian" games (like Life is Strange or The Last of Us 2) - one of girls is (or was) obsessed with a man at one point, or even was dating a man and is pregnant during two women dating.

[–]yousaythosethings 17 insightful - 4 fun17 insightful - 3 fun18 insightful - 4 fun -  (0 children)

So I see it differently. Hollywood is not OK AT ALL with openly lesbian feminine/conventionally attractive women. If you’re conventionally attractive, openness to men is considered essential to your brand. You get pressured to stay in the closet or to at least say you’re bisexual or “queer” or not define your sexual orientation. Anything but lesbian. And if you’re a conventionally attractive bisexual, there is pressure to only date men or to at least not openly date women.

I do get strong vibes that Kristen Stewart is not bisexual but lesbian but has been pressured to say she’s bisexual. Look at her. She was absolutely miserable before. If she was into men, she wouldn’t have been so outwardly miserable while dating them. It was a common punchline before how miserable and sad she always looked. Like night and day when she started dating women. She at minimum clearly has a strong preference for women.

Within movies and TV though, yes female characters are either femme lesbians or bisexuals. And they’re always played by straight women.

[–]Sarahh 16 insightful - 2 fun16 insightful - 1 fun17 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

most lesbian representation in media really isn't good there is always a man involved at some point or they try to pass off a woman and a TIM as a lesbian couple for example euporia, sense8

[–][deleted] 15 insightful - 1 fun15 insightful - 0 fun16 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Society has always hated masculine women the most, because we don't conform to oppressive standards.

[–]FlanJam 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Rarely have I seen lesbian representation that is explicitly lesbian, and even more rare if they say the word "lesbian" aloud. Most of the time they leave it ambiguous, even when its not meant to be. For example, as much as I enjoyed she-ra, they only confirmed them as lesbian in interviews (I'm pretty sure this is the case, I haven't finished the final season yet lol).

Ironically tho, east asian media tends to be a little better (especially with more tomboyish characters), even tho those countries are generally not as accepting of LGBT. Of course, the media I speak of is mostly indie, created by lgbt people. You'll rarely find anything mainstream.

[–]VioletRemi 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

They are very homophobic there in reality, but in media they are often fine with homosexuality, but almost always it is shown in fetishistic way.

[–]SailorMoon2020 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

I agree and disagree.

I agree in the sense shows that the characters are often white and the show is American mainstream, yes.

Shows however, with a black, Hispanic, or even Asian cast however, both American, non-American main stream and indie, have a good share of masculine women representation.

For example

Black Lightning has a black lesbian who is pretty masculine

Tasha from the L Word was pretty masculine.

One character from Spike Lee's show, She's Gotta Have it, was masculine and gay. The sex scene with her and the main character was bomb!

A Cuban American show that was on Netflix had a few.

Lip Service, a Scottish show had a couple of masculine gay women.

Haha, Gentlemen Jack.

A Mexican American show that was on Starz also had a couple but also had some NB ones too.

The whole Chinese YouTube channel, Rela has short films, and web series featuring masculine women.

[–]Climblikeabee 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Roberta Calindrez played a lesbian (Tako) in season 1 of Girls on HBO and then also in The Deuce (Irene). It seems like she gets typecast for those roles, definitely masc-leaning but still conventionally attractive. I looked her up and she identifies as queer 😞

[–]FlanJam 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I don't understand why so many are afraid of the lesbian label. I was a little bummed when I found out girl in red identifies as queer.

[–]VioletRemi 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I don't want to sound wrongly or rude, but this sounds to me as it caused because of the racism - "men liking when white women are fragile, and when women of color are more feral/masculine/brutal". Maybe because of this it is more acceptable for people of color to be homosexual in media? For some reason, when I am seeing anglo-world depictings of people of color, they are more often than not "more masculine" or "more criminal" - both men and women. While here (in Ukraine) it is very rarely people of color shown in media (we most have none here), but when they are - it is often just a normal regular person like everyone else. I may be wrong, but I really have strong impression that it is like I've said shown in media at least to a some degree.

[–]SailorMoon2020 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Is that you, child? It's been so long since I've seen you. My eyes aren't what they used to be...come closer. Closer...yes, it's been 34 years...

Jaaaa, you're right and I agree. I wondered if anyone would catch on...

[–]FlanJam 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Black Lightning has a black lesbian who is pretty masculine

Are you talking about Anissa? I thought she was pretty feminine?

The whole Chinese YouTube channel, Rela has short films, and web series featuring masculine women.

I love Rela! I wish there was an english equivalent of the Rela app, it seems better than what we have haha. Also, there are a decent number of Korean lesbian short films on youtube in the same vein as what Rela does. I definitely recommend for anyone wanting more lesbian rep.

[–][deleted] 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

YES. GIVE ME A TV SHOW WITH A HOT BUTCH WOMAN WHO IS A LESBIAN.