Gender in the Lesbian Community

Sex and gender are two diverse terms that have different meanings. A human beings sex is not their gender. Sex is a biological distinction and difference that determines a male and female. In contrast, a person’s gender consists of traits and behaviors that are culturally assigned between male and females (Torres, Wheaton College Lecture, October 28, 2009). The focus of lesbian identity is based on gender considering all lesbians share the same sex distinction. Gender as a cultural construct defines women as feminine, beautiful, assertive, soft, appealing to men and submissive. The lesbian identity challenges these constructions because not all lesbian women fit the cultural and societal forms of femininity. In addition, gender does not function in all lesbian identities because the ideal conception of how gender looks, acts and conforms to society is subverted by everyday practices.

Lesbian identity works to create individual identities that are self and communally constructed rather than socially and culturally constructed. Gender works by how society, the media, different cultures and the government determine what gender should be. People’s identities are shaped by how gender is represented and presented to them at an early age (Torres, Wheaton College Lecture, October 28, 2009). For most lesbians, during the time of sexual development they realize that they do not fit or perform the roles of gender they have been taught. Stud/ Butch lesbians who wear men’s clothing and prefer dominance and masculinity realize this difference in gender.

Since Studs/ Butch lesbians are more masculine than Femme lesbians they are able to challenge gender in multiple ways. Gender states that women are supposed to wear women’s clothing. Clothing stores have two separate departments where men and women can shop beginning with infants and ending in adults. As these distinctions are culturally assigned, it is expected for both genders to follow the construction and shop in their designated section. Gender is also challenged in lesbian relationships. Men have been deemed the more dominant figures and women are viewed as passive and submissive. In a lesbian relationship one woman is dominant and the other is passive, or two women are passive and two women are dominant. Lesbian women create their own cultural practices where they are able to exercise their notion and definition of gender through various ideas, tasks and roles.

*The difference between sex and gender is based on a biological distinction of sex and also the difference in behaviors and traits. Lesbian women challenge the differences in gender because they are not influenced by the way society shapes the female model of gender. Gender as a cultural construct limits the way females are required to act and what roles they are expected to play. As a lesbian, gender roles are reversed or shared so that gender does not become limiting but supportive of ones identity.

Work Cited:

Internet Article-
Plymire, Darcy C.
2000 Review: Teaching Gender in Lesbian and Gay Studies
pp. 174-180
http://www.jstor.org/pss/4316716