Lesbians on TV

[Trublu]

Thought I'd make a thread about this, since I'm actually writing a research paper on it, but it fascinates me so much in general.

Does anyone notice that the popular trend for lesbians on television is one of the following:

1. They are trying to get pregnant with their partner, and the effort causes them to split up and/or sleep with a man?

2. The lesbian is a criminal and gets sent to jail.

3. She dies.

There are very few shows that seem to not follow that mold earnestly. Even the L Word, which should be the holiest of lesbian shows, has done, I believe, all of these things.

What's the deal?

SPOILER: Click to show

I can think of exactly one positive example of lesbians on television, and that is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Willow and Tara's relationship was one of the best things to happen to TV, though it took forever to get them to kiss on screen, and to share a bed, which happened of course in the episode where Tara died. The reason I don't lump categorize this with #3 is because Joss Whedon didn't kill off Tara to end the storyline, but because it was necessary for Willow's plot development to lose her love, and she did get another girlfriend before the end of the show.

(If you know of any other examples of lesbians on TV or critical texts which talk about it, please post them as well and/or point me in that direction. )

[edwardjh]

I am not familiar with National US, (or your state's) TV channels, so I cannot comment from a US viewers perspective. I can, however, comment from a more UK media perspective.

With regards to #3, it seems to me that it's not so much purely a lesbian thing: it is not uncommon for any female, regardless of sexuality, to be portrayed as weak and vulnerable. I guess it's more of a negative portrayal of women altogether, reinforcing the idea of a "patriarchal society".

What I have noticed is not so much a negative portrayal of lesbians, but instead a lack of any representation altogether. Unlike recent years where gay men have been somewhat "glamorised" (albeit also perpetuating the stereotypical gay man), lesbians aren't really mentioned so much. I get the impression that the media seems to want to sweep it under the carpet.

I can't think of any examples off-hand, but on the rare occasion is depicted, they seem to portrayed as being radical feminists i.e. those that seek to completely distance themselves from men altogether and believe that men are destructive. While there may be lesbians who are radical feminists, the majority of the time this isn't true.

That's all I can think of right now. If I can think of anything else though, I will post it.

[Trublu]

Jan 29, 2009 17:28:54 GMT -5 @edwardjh said:

I am not familiar with National US, (or your state's) TV channels, so I cannot comment from a US viewers perspective. I can, however, comment from a more UK media perspective.

With regards to #3, it seems to me that it's not so much purely a lesbian thing: it is not uncommon for any female, regardless of sexuality, to be portrayed as weak and vulnerable. I guess it's more of a negative portrayal of women altogether, reinforcing the idea of a "patriarchal society".

What I have noticed is not so much a negative portrayal of lesbians, but instead a lack of any representation altogether. Unlike recent years where gay men have been somewhat "glamorised" (albeit also perpetuating the stereotypical gay man), lesbians aren't really mentioned so much. I get the impression that the media seems to want to sweep it under the carpet.

I can't think of any examples off-hand, but on the rare occasion is depicted, they seem to portrayed as being radical feminists i.e. those that seek to completely distance themselves from men altogether and believe that men are destructive. While there may be lesbians who are radical feminists, the majority of the time this isn't true.

That's all I can think of right now. If I can think of anything else though, I will post it.

Quite true, I should clarify that my remarks were made in the event that lesbians are actually shown on television at all, which is still a rarity.

[Terry]

2. The lesbian is a criminal and gets sent to jail.

Ever seen the British show "Bad Girls"? Works for me! ;D

And when I gave it 0.2 seconds worth of thinking, I actually realized that the first one ruined much of The L Word. It was like they were screaming "There's no hope for happiness for you!" right in our faces. You'd think a show like that would stray away from annoying plots like that.

But other than that, I think that whenever lesbians, or gay men, are on TV, they can't 'just' be lesbians. There has got to be something extra and exciting, making lesbians seem like these mystical and exotic creatures whom live in a so much more complex world than the general population.

[Katie]

Jan 28, 2009 20:11:21 GMT -5 Trublu said:

Willow and Tara's relationship was one of the best things to happen to TV, though it took forever to get them to kiss on screen, and to share a bed, which happened of course in the episode where Tara died.

I'm a Buffy geek, seriously, I'm actually watching it right now!
So I feel a need to correct you. They do share a bed, before that. The first immediate example I can think of is in season 5, in the episode Family (my personal favorite). They are in Tara's dorm, Willow went to sleep and flirted with Tara until Tara caved and went to bed with her.

Also random tidbit (I listen to the commentaries a lot... Joss is a funny guy!), did you know that Tara and Willow have, or perhaps had the longest lesbian kiss on T.V.... any no one ever saw it? It was in Restless at the end of Season 4 in Xander's dream.

See, told you I was a Buffy geek lol.


And this is kinda like your first point:
In the U.S. version of Queer of Folk there is a lesbian couple that is major. While one woman is pregnant, or trying to get pregnant I can't recall, the other sleeps with a man to further her career. Afterwords they have a nasty break up with custody battles.
And in the end of the series a lesbian by the name of Dusty dies. She is part of the only other lesbian couple I remember being mention.
....Although now, looking at the date, I see that your paper is paper is already done. lol. (:

[naj]

I can think of exactly one positive example of lesbians on television,

If you are limiting this to US television then I agree. But in British drama don't forget Bad Girls. Helen and Niki had a wonderful three year run with a happy ending.


The L Word makes it appear that lesbians just sleep around until someone new catches their fancy. That's terrible! But maybe if one is a lesbian and from LA this is how they live.