Written by: Brianna Rusu
More often than not the only media representations of same-sex female couples are manufactured through a male gaze. This is not only wrong but also ruins how young queers view themselves when they grow up, This can lead to internalized homophobia, compulsory heterosexuality, and even suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression in severe cases.
How does that happen?
Early exposure to any type of media could reflect later in life in a child’s personality and way of thinking. Demonstrations of dangerous behaviors from men who use pressure to get women to engage in same-sex acts for the male’s pleasure often appear in media and can harm the lesbian community because it creates the idea that same-sex relationships only happen to entertain the “straight gaze”.
How does this affect the lesbian community?
Frequently, lesbians are scared to hold hands, kiss, or interact with each other in public. Their everyday life is impacted by the inaccurate and offensive representations of their relationships in the media. This has given society the idea that lesbians can be freely judged and fetishized.
Breaking the Narrative
Shows like “Orange is The New Black” or ‘The L-word” have shone some light on the reality of same-sex relationships. The LGBTQIA+ community has fought more and more for correct representations, which has made the predominantly straight media pay attention to how lesbians were treated in the past. There have been attempts to make some small but acknowledgeable changes.
Better representations of same-sex relationships can make young LGBTQIA+ members feel like their voices are seen and heard. Representation in media reduces the cases of internalized homophobia and fear of coming out. It provides a feeling of acceptance. The LGBTQIA+ community has proven that they will never stop fighting for their rights and that the community will fight for representation in media.