Blog # 2 Lesbian Baiting

EQUAL????

While reading Suzanne’s article Homophobia A Weapon of Sexism, I came across a word I had never heard of before, lesbian baiting. Lesbian baiting is an attempt to control women whose behavior is deemed unacceptable to societal norms. When a woman asserts independence, the right to her own body, living her own life the way she desires, saying no to violence, and much more, she risks the threat of being called a lesbian. So, if a woman decides to live her life the way she wants and doesn’t necessarily NEED a man, she is clearly a lesbian. This is blatantly phish posh.
Women that live life the way they desire by nobly fighting for their rights and equality has nothing to do with her sexual orientation or preference. I find it funny that lesbian baiting is used to sway women to fit mythical norms while men desire girl on girl make out sessions, action, porn, etc. This goes back to the double bind. Women are told to act a certain way- passive, family oriented, financially dependent- they are threatened with lesbianism, yet they are expected to be just that! It’s a definite lose-lose situation. Men use lesbianism in such a negative light for control, yet it’s the very thing they like to watch and see. Women face far more double-binds than men it’s ridiculous. I personally believe lesbian baiting is the most lame, irrelevant threat that can possibly be used to threaten women to fit into societal norms. Maybe deep down, men really want us to be independent and equal; they just don’t know it yet. ;)