What do you think about when you hear the word “lesbian”? Maybe you think about think about a masculine female who wears their hair cut short and who wears baggy clothes or female who is extremely sexy and involved with one another or just females in general who plays sports. In today’s society there are many stereotypes about lesbians. Before women were open with their sexuality in the media it was rare to be a lesbian and unlikely for people to accept that. Back in the day lesbians kept their sexuality a secret to avoid criticism from others. Since times are changing it’s becoming more prevalent today.
As the stereotypes about lesbians still remain the same today, Women are taking different approaches through the media such as Ellen DeGeneres coming out with a show about high profile independent lesbian women who has to deal with everyday life, and live performance maybe to express their sexuality such as the Britney Spears and Madonna kiss at the VMA awards. Even though neither of these women are lesbians, in society if two women kiss their considered lesbians. However, this is creating more stereotypes because not only are women coming out with their sexuality they are also expressing how comfortable they are with these stereotypes show about our culture even though times are changing and more women are coming out expressing their sexuality. Stereotypes about lesbians still exist.
The never forgotten performance of Madonna and Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera’s shocked the world. This performance was at the 2003 MTV video Music Awards. The performance was an opening act; many were not prepared for what they saw. Britney and Christina came onto the stage dressed like brides. They were performing one of Madonna classic hits “Like a Virgin”. A couple of minutes into the show Madonna came out of a cake dressed in a tuxedo, she apparently was the groom. She then segued into her new song at that time called “Hollywood”. During the performance Madonna body language with Britney and Christina established she was dominance in the performance. While performing, Madonna from time to time placed her hands on Britney and Christina, stroking Britney face putting her hand on her hips, putting her face against Christina thigh, not to mention taking off the garter. Right before the audience eyes Madonna, Britney, and Christina kissed.
The lesbian sexuality in the performance was not only interesting but shocking. After they kissed, these women had completely crossed the line. They had opened the door to perpetuating stereotypes such as endorsement of gay marriage or young females to make out. A general stereotype that this performance plays into is the sexy lesbians who make out, that most men find attractive. For their lesbians fans this performance just a publicity stunt for more viewers. It was viewed in negative light not to mention boring. The kiss had received so much attention from all over it shows hat I will be a while before the media excepting same sex kissing as not a big deal. None of these three women are openly lesbians but the performance shows that a person can do whatever they want. This also does not mean that people will change their mind about Britney, Madonna, and Christina being lesbians. If this performance was before lesbian sexuality was not accepted they would have lost many fans and rating towards for the VMA’S. I agree with Ellen Carton when he states “with more and more movies, TV shows, and etc. being displayed the different images through the media that is creating movements as well as gaining power with respect for guys and lesbians (“Carton”). As times passes lesbians sexuality will be excepted one way or another.
“In the past, when lesbians were seen in pop culture-if they were seen at all they tend to be sexless creatures dropped in flannel-show times. The word reverses the text type “(Bolonik”). The L word was created for people to get a better understanding about lesbians. Maybe when a person hear it is a show about six lesbians must people may think it’s about is negative things sometime they generally make assumptions even before watching the show. This show was also created to prove to people that even though these women are lesbians they live everyday normal lives and experiences everyday normal issues. Just because a person sexual preference is of the same sex does not mean they are not human. An executive producer Julie Caruthers gives her head up about lesbians and the media saying “If you can make people care on a human level, its not sexual preference. It is about the human experience (“Stewart”). With that stated after the series had ended people had a better understanding about lesbians, rather than just to judge them based on their sexual orientation?
While on the other hand, this TV show does play into stereotypes about lesbians, but then again it does not. Some of he general stereotypes that these women play into are the things that most people consider are lesbian tendencies such as, women who wear their hair cut short or women who wear baggy clothes, just women in general who are masculine lesbians. The total opposite of a masculine lesbian is a feminine lesbian. The stereotypes about lesbians who dress feminine are shown through most of the episodes of the L word. A typical lesbian woman who dresses feminine is always looked upon as being sexy, hot or erotic. But what this show displays is these are everyday normal women no matter how they dress or act. This show not only makes you look pass these women sexually but it helps people understand it is more to people than just to judge them about the way they dress or their sexual preference. This show received attention not because it was a show about lesbians, but the things that went on during the show such as, bold sex scenes, campy attitudes. Even before this show had begun people made stereotypes about it. But this show was not created just based on stereotypes but women who can ignore the ignorance and for once be comfortable about their sexuality without worrying what people have to say or think. This show improved lesbian visibility on television overnight aside from stereotypes that will always remain.
Ellen DeGeneres stated as a stand up comedian appearing in small clubs. She received her big break in 1986. She went on the tonight show and “earned the distinction of being the only female to sit on the couch during her first visit”. (biography.com) her self titled TV show; Ellen was first called These Friends of Mine. During the TV show in April 1997, her character came out and admitted to her sexuality. A few of the sponsors for the show had withdrawn form the fearing of controversy. For quite sometime the show received criticism, but on the other hand there were other people who supported her. The “coming-out episode was nominated for an Emmy awards, it was also placed in television history.
With Ellen coming-out on her self titled sitcom she and Anne Heche attended the Oprah Winfrey show together and there they announced that they were a couple. Bruce Vilanch feels that the public has set a double standard for Ellen and her coming-out. (“Vilanch”) Before Ellen had came out, she had many people who looked up too her. She was stereotyped as the typical lesbian with the short cut hair and baggy clothes. She plays into some of the known stereotypes about masculine lesbians. When she came out she expected everyone to accept her for her aside from her sexuality, but hey you can’t please everyone.
In 2003 she returned back to television with her self titled talk show Ellen. The Ellen show is one of the most popular talk shows on TV. The show it self has won many awards form; Daytime Emmy awards and People choice awards. On the show she dresses masculine wearing pants, a vest and flat shoes. Her demeanor is more on the masculine side. Not to mention she keep the audience laughing which is her job. Yes, she has plenty of fans but does she play into stereotypes of lesbians until she did cover girl. Ellen was then called the lipstick lesbian just because she was a model for cover girl. Ellen being a model for cover girls goes to show how society has changed. Just because she came out with her sexuality, corporations did not discriminate. However, she will always be stereotyped but that is not stopping her from her form her everyday life. Ellen will always be congratulated as the first celebrity woman in the media to come out with her sexuality.
Stereotypes will always exist whether they are true or not, especially in the media. Women all over has been categorize in different stereotypes that people have come up with regardless if they were true or not. Twenty years ago lesbian women were not accepted in the media no type of way. Every since Ellen DeGeneres came out with her sexuality many people have came to some type of understanding about lesbians, although they may still stereotype them. Over time the media has changed, it shows with the women in today’s media who has become more comfortable about their sexuality. It is shown through performances like the Britney Christina and Madonna kiss improving lesbian visibility, from The Ellen talk show to the TV series The L Word. With this stated stereotypes will always exist.
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