The L Word: A rant.
I really wish that at some point, television shows would portray lesbians as realistic and decent human beings. Admittedly, I don't watch a lot of TV, so maybe there is a show that does this, but if there is, I have not seen it. I have mentioned this before, and people have replied "Oh, The L Word!"
No.
The L Word is the WORST portrayal of lesbians on TV that I have seen. Though I like that they do not sink to the stereotype of short hair butch dykes or women who hate men, they do offer up completely self absorbed, lying, cheating, oversexed manipulators who move from relationship to relationship without a blink of a care for the partners they leave in their dust. While that might be more due to the drama soap opera nature of the show, it also paints this behavior with an overtone of "this is normal and healthy" which it isn't.
I know a lot of real lesbians. None of the lesbians I know behave that way. My lesbians (heh, MY lesbians) are capable of having long term, healthy, happy relationships just like straights do. They don't go around screwing everything that walks.
One of the more likable characters on the L Word is "Alice." Alice is presented as probably THE most likable character; smart, witty, cute, everyone likes her. Ok, well Alice falls in love with a female army soldier. This soldier is brought to a trial for homosexual conduct. Alice basically pressures her to give up her military career (which is the soldier's chosen life), and she does. Then, just days later, Alice dumps the soldier because she meets someone "cute" whom she just met. This is filmed with an overtone of "the right thing to do." Actually- it is grotesque.
I am in no way saying that we should get our morals from TV, but the problem is, some people do. More importantly, there are very few lesbian characters on TV, and with The L Word being a veritable Lesbopalooza, there are people (stupid people) who think that is a realistic portrayal. If The L Word had even ONE lesbian couple in a non-twisted relationship, even as minor characters, it would appease my annoyance, but they don't. It almost makes me prefer stereotypes. Give me the flannel shirt, Dungaree wearing butch Lickalotapussaurus over these evil bitches any day.
No.
The L Word is the WORST portrayal of lesbians on TV that I have seen. Though I like that they do not sink to the stereotype of short hair butch dykes or women who hate men, they do offer up completely self absorbed, lying, cheating, oversexed manipulators who move from relationship to relationship without a blink of a care for the partners they leave in their dust. While that might be more due to the drama soap opera nature of the show, it also paints this behavior with an overtone of "this is normal and healthy" which it isn't.
I know a lot of real lesbians. None of the lesbians I know behave that way. My lesbians (heh, MY lesbians) are capable of having long term, healthy, happy relationships just like straights do. They don't go around screwing everything that walks.
One of the more likable characters on the L Word is "Alice." Alice is presented as probably THE most likable character; smart, witty, cute, everyone likes her. Ok, well Alice falls in love with a female army soldier. This soldier is brought to a trial for homosexual conduct. Alice basically pressures her to give up her military career (which is the soldier's chosen life), and she does. Then, just days later, Alice dumps the soldier because she meets someone "cute" whom she just met. This is filmed with an overtone of "the right thing to do." Actually- it is grotesque.
I am in no way saying that we should get our morals from TV, but the problem is, some people do. More importantly, there are very few lesbian characters on TV, and with The L Word being a veritable Lesbopalooza, there are people (stupid people) who think that is a realistic portrayal. If The L Word had even ONE lesbian couple in a non-twisted relationship, even as minor characters, it would appease my annoyance, but they don't. It almost makes me prefer stereotypes. Give me the flannel shirt, Dungaree wearing butch Lickalotapussaurus over these evil bitches any day.