http://jezebel.com/5961998/what-its-like-to-be-a-lesbian-in-the-lingerie-industry?utm_campaign=socialflow_jezebel_facebook&utm_source=jezebel_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
So, the article that set off this rant is linked above. Basically, I tired of making excuses for this meme in the feminist and lesbian community.
Masculine sexuality is overwhelmingly a part of feminine sexuality, and that's okay. I don't prefer it myself, and that's okay. This article, and so many like it, usually written by women who also don't prefer masculine sexuality in their own sexual expression, boils down to, 'These straight women are only expressing their sexuality to please men- that's sexist.' We need to continue to develop the feminist response to what's happening until we get to a place that validates the sexual expressions of straight people.
Here's what's really wrong with this situation: Lesbians are not represented by girl-on-girl and tons of people, including some lesbians, think they should be.
The author says that the fashion industry is homophobic because when same-sex attraction is modelled, the women in the picture don't have an identity or a voice. They actually do, their identity and voice is a straight one. One that is more interested in the absent masculine viewer than the feminine expression of sexuality in front of them. How many times have you heard a straight woman say something like, "I think other chicks can look hot, and I'll tell them they do, but I need a man." That is what the models in your "silencing" examples are saying. 'In order for me to feel like a sexual being, I need a man to be involved.' There should not be a problem with that, nor with women consensually engaging in sexual acts with one-another for the purpose of enhancing their straight sexuality.
It's easy to miss that as a lesbian for good reason. Of course, that's not how we would look in that photo. I'd be drooling over this other woman, they'd have to have an even hotter chick behind the camera to get me to look in that direction.
The other reason we are angry about these photos is that we are told that they represent our sexuality and so are people who do not know anything about our sexuality. Straight people often confuse the straight expression of girl-on-girl, (which is focused on the subject of attraction: men) for lesbian sexuality, (which is focused on the subject of attraction: each other). Neither of these expressions is sexist or invalid. Both should be celebrated and accepted.
Most of all, we should be fighting the problem and not other women. The problem is the silencing of lesbians in the lingerie industry. We should find lesbian models and photographers (or anyone who can model/photograph a lesbian picture) and rally behind those persons and their work. We should demand greater visibility from the industry and tell them to knock it off when they point to straight girl-on-girl action and tell us to be satisfied by that. We don't need to silence straight women to fight homophobia.
As always, I may be ignoring important points or facts. Feel free to contact me with questions, corrections, and comments.
