After viewing the Madison Diversity Panel yesterday I have been thinking a lot about gender deviance. One of the girls, Faith, on the panel used herself as an example to explain deviance. Faith said that she is a lesbian with short hair who wears boy’s clothes and as a result if often viewed as “butch” or a “dike”. However, Faith said that is she was a lesbian with long, flowing hair who always wore girly pink dresses she would be viewed simply as a lesbian and everyone would love her for it.
This makes me think back to the beginning of the semester when we learned about gender socialization. We are taught and learn the appropriate thinking and behaviors associated with being a girl. Since Faith does not fit the traditional girl description and image she is seen as a tomboy and a “manly lesbian”.
Faith also went on to explain that when she first meets people they almost automatically assume that she is a lesbian based on the way that she looks. People assume this because of the way society has defined certain types of lesbians and because it is going against the gender norms that which everyone is so familiar. This is not only unfair to her, but everyone with a similar situation. Issues like this, along with many others, are what make it so challenging for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals to come out and reveal who they really are.
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