Yeah, actually, that is (as sad as it is) true. There is a visible trend going on, of what is, at least around here, called Fashion Lezzies. A trendy movement of sorts. It is reality - being gay is trendy now, you can see it on how it's represented on television and movies etc. Everybody's - well, mostly girls - suddenly coming out of the closet as 'a bit gay'.
There was an article on it somewhere... Eh, can't remember where now, but it had interviews of these so-called Fashion Lezzies. It was annoying reading some of the comments made there, but what I found especially hurtful was that in the corner of the page, there was a 'slang dictionary' for synonyms for bisexuals (one of those names being 'closet-straight'), which I found particularly upsetting, because that simple box that wasn't even mentioned in the actual article suggested that bisexuals are Fashion Lezzies.
This trend obviously tells a lot about the overall attitude towards homo- and bisexuality. I don't know... I'm not sure what I feel about it all, but I do know that something about it leaves a bad taste into my mouth.
And it is true that gayness has been made entertainment. I don't know if it's just the straight world trying to find a way to cope with its existance, in the same manner that gayness has before been dressed into this stereotypical, comical suit in order to distinguish it from the 'normal', and... I just lost my trail of thought. Anyway, I think you know what I'm saying, and I'll just stop talking now.
I had two main contentions with this - firstly that lack of surprise and secondly the complete homophobia of it. And it is homophobia - the author takes the opinion that blurred sexuality is wrong and that there is a moral high ground to be taken. "Some thing has gone terribly wrong"? Why because people have the freedom to express themselves now in ways they didn't before?
I'll admit, freely, that the idea of lesbianism is now a fairly commercial thing and I agree with you, it can be pure entertainment factor but seriously? I don't see a problem with girls who kiss other girls even if they're straight. The real issue behind this article is the breakdown of current youth - the real issue touted by the author is that these girls should make their minds up.
And you're right, of course - people get mixed up between bisexuals and 'fashion lezzies'. But I don't necessarily see wrong in being a supposed 'fashion lezzie' if at the end of the day you're for bisexuality and homosexuality as much as you are heterosexuality. If you're a bisexual, fine. Just don't turn the corner and be straight when it suits you. that's not what bisexuality is about.
OK, I guess that's a confusing stance to take because it seems contradictory. Article's tone made me fume most of all. Just... grr.
*nods* Exactly. The writer's opinion is just that: be this or be that, but don't you dare say your something in between. And that makes my head boil. It's so black and white. I just don't believe that human sexuality can be that black and white. In fact - and here's my unpopular opinion of the day - I don't believe that all that many people are actually 100% either. I'm not saying everyone's a bit gay (or straight, if you're looking from the other direction) to the extent that they would actually sleep with a person of the opposite sex, but just that... I'm a bit Freudian in the sense that I believe that a lot of humans' social behaviour comes down to sexuality; that it's all in the same spectrum, just in different points of it. (Where some people say that homosexuality is unnatural, I have a theory that it's actually a clever survival trick created by evolution. so there, you can see my opinions can get weird. *g*)
I don't see that big a problem with the actual deed of a straight girl kissing another, either, it's just that... I suppose the biggest problem that I have with 'fashion lesbianism' is why they're doing it: it seems to me that it's not about sexual exploration or not having made up one's mind, but that it's about shock value and being sexy in the eyes of the boys. It's that, the way of thinking behind it, that bothers me. I think that that only keeps up the suppressive attitude toward homo- and bisexuality as, on the other hand, a tabu and a moral crime, and on the other hand, a sexual object, and therefore does nothing to promote real freedom of sexuality.
But then again, maybe this fashion lesbianism can be a good thing if it rattles the way people think a little. It's just tricky: can you shake something in a good way with a thing that's based on exactly the same ideas you're trying to erase?
I suppose the biggest problem that I have with 'fashion lesbianism' is why they're doing it: it seems to me that it's not about sexual exploration or not having made up one's mind, but that it's about shock value and being sexy in the eyes of the boys. Yes, ITA. The motivation is wrong, not the act itself, or even the basic premise of it (i.e. bisexuality/homosexuality).
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no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 10:46 am (UTC)There was an article on it somewhere... Eh, can't remember where now, but it had interviews of these so-called Fashion Lezzies. It was annoying reading some of the comments made there, but what I found especially hurtful was that in the corner of the page, there was a 'slang dictionary' for synonyms for bisexuals (one of those names being 'closet-straight'), which I found particularly upsetting, because that simple box that wasn't even mentioned in the actual article suggested that bisexuals are Fashion Lezzies.
This trend obviously tells a lot about the overall attitude towards homo- and bisexuality. I don't know... I'm not sure what I feel about it all, but I do know that something about it leaves a bad taste into my mouth.
And it is true that gayness has been made entertainment. I don't know if it's just the straight world trying to find a way to cope with its existance, in the same manner that gayness has before been dressed into this stereotypical, comical suit in order to distinguish it from the 'normal', and... I just lost my trail of thought. Anyway, I think you know what I'm saying, and I'll just stop talking now.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 10:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 10:53 am (UTC)*bangs head against wall*
Am I really the only one rolling my eyes at the shock that they feel towards the amount of bisexuals? Really?
Sorry, I'll stop now. *tiptoes away*
[singing] Spaaaam, lovely spam...
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Date: 2005-05-04 11:09 am (UTC)I'll admit, freely, that the idea of lesbianism is now a fairly commercial thing and I agree with you, it can be pure entertainment factor but seriously? I don't see a problem with girls who kiss other girls even if they're straight. The real issue behind this article is the breakdown of current youth - the real issue touted by the author is that these girls should make their minds up.
And you're right, of course - people get mixed up between bisexuals and 'fashion lezzies'. But I don't necessarily see wrong in being a supposed 'fashion lezzie' if at the end of the day you're for bisexuality and homosexuality as much as you are heterosexuality. If you're a bisexual, fine. Just don't turn the corner and be straight when it suits you. that's not what bisexuality is about.
OK, I guess that's a confusing stance to take because it seems contradictory. Article's tone made me fume most of all. Just... grr.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 12:25 pm (UTC)I don't see that big a problem with the actual deed of a straight girl kissing another, either, it's just that... I suppose the biggest problem that I have with 'fashion lesbianism' is why they're doing it: it seems to me that it's not about sexual exploration or not having made up one's mind, but that it's about shock value and being sexy in the eyes of the boys. It's that, the way of thinking behind it, that bothers me. I think that that only keeps up the suppressive attitude toward homo- and bisexuality as, on the other hand, a tabu and a moral crime, and on the other hand, a sexual object, and therefore does nothing to promote real freedom of sexuality.
But then again, maybe this fashion lesbianism can be a good thing if it rattles the way people think a little. It's just tricky: can you shake something in a good way with a thing that's based on exactly the same ideas you're trying to erase?
I hope that made sense. (Tired.)
no subject
Date: 2005-05-04 03:02 pm (UTC)Yes, ITA. The motivation is wrong, not the act itself, or even the basic premise of it (i.e. bisexuality/homosexuality).