Proceed With Caution – Stereotype Ahead

In this weeks offering I am going to deal with the somewhat taboo subject of lesbian stereotypes. If you are likely to become infuriated, huffy or at risk of a coronary heart attack, please look away now.



I won’t insult your intelligence by detailing exactly what a ‘lesbian stereotype’ is. There are, amazingly, a great many variations to this supposedly open and shut case. Lipstick lesbians, tomboyish dykes and butch drag kings are all among the many stereotypes to which we all apparently conform. Even non-conformity is considered a convention of lesbianism.

But do we secretly want to be stereotyped? In a world which is tainted by the ever present ‘is-she-or-isn’t-she’ doubt, would it be easier for us to conform to a certain stereotype as a way of identifying potential partners and like minded individuals? I can’t pretend I haven’t used music tastes and rainbow accessories as a way of signalling my preference to others of ‘our side’, all be it in a veiled way.

We can’t make lesbianism an exclusive members only club. Perhaps you think I am being absurd even suggesting it, but how many of us have been secretly confused by the short-haired girl in baggy trousers at the bus stop, who 9 months later is wheeling a pram? I may be excused for assuming that to a certain extent our gaydar’s work on stereotypes. That may explain why our egos take a certain dent if we are wrong.

It would seem we are all guilty of stereotyping, no matter how much we protest that we hate stereotypes, that we are more than just a stereotype and that we aren’t actually one anyway. It seems that stereotypes, and non-conformity are all part of our culture, which we are willing to accept at varying degrees.

If you’ve read this far and aren’t disgusted at my narrow-mindedness, then congrats. If on the other hand you are promptly closing your window in disgust and vowing never to read my blog again, excuse me, these are not cold hard facts, just the take on life of a non-stereotypical, tomboyish, rainbow accessorised, KD Lang and Melissa Etheridge fan, vegetarian and political activist lesbian.