Lesbian porn is one of the most popular genres.
As you can see, lesbian porn has lost some popularity in some eastern countries, but unfortunately the difference is small.
Due to popularity in western countries there is the unfortunate over sexualization that leaks into media representation of lesbians.
This video comes from a popular lesbian youtuber, Shanon Beveridge. She posted this video to her Tik Tok, @nowthisisliving1. While she specifically refers to Hollywood, the stigma reaches all forms of media.
Representation in Books
Images from https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Lesbian+novels&qid=QDQApcYcmH
I went to goodreads.com and searched "lesbian novels". These are three books from the first page that caught my eye, but most of the first page has a similar theme.
These are the results on the first page.
I have found that the phrase "Lesbian Romance Novel" is basically synonymous with erotica in many of the books on this page. A common theme when looking at these books is an erotic image, an erotic title or both.
While not all lesbian novels are like these grocery story erotica novels, they are still over powering better lesbian narratives. This is clear from the fact that these appear on the first page for lesbian novels.
A Novel I Like, but is still problematic
Sarah Waters is a great author and I love "Tipping the Velvet", but it is still problematic.
"Tipping the Velvet" was one of the first lesbian novels I ever read and it is wonderfully written, but I have some problems with it.
The story is set in England in the 1890's and is about a young girl who falls in love with a male impersonator and follows her to London. To avoid spoilers I will just say it then highlights her journey.
The first problem I have with this book is that it is so sexual. More than I feel was necessary for the story line.
Don't get me wrong, I believe that sex is apart of life and therefore should play a part in stories, but there are places in this story that I think it was over the top.
Reviews
Spoiler Alert!! Spoilers below!!
I again took to goodreads.com. This time I searched for reviews to illustrate some of the problems I also had with this book.
This review brings up the second problem I have with this book. More than once a man or, in the case of the scene referred to in the review, many men are sexually or romantically involved.
This highlights the fact that often times stories are never allowed to be just about women. It isn't uncommon for one or more of the women to be bisexual or just all of a sudden be with a man.
Overall it is a wonderful book, but it is erotic to a fault and is not the best representation for lesbians.
Tv Representation
The L Word image from http://thelword.wikifoundry.com/page/L+Word+Episode+Guides, The 100 image from https://www.itl.cat/wallview/mJxTmw_100-season-4-intro/
Let's start with "The L Word"
I want to start by saying that I love the representation and the fact that there is a show that is centered on lesbians and their lives.
The same problem presents itself that I highlighted in "Tipping the Velvet." While this show highlights real struggles of being a lesbian, it has a lot of sex in it.
One thing that comes up a lot is Alice's web of who has slept with who and how everyone in the lesbian community is connected.
Possible Spoilers Below!!
While this is an interesting social experiment and highlights a real occurrence in the lesbian community, it also allows the show to continue to highlight the sexual aspect of lesbian relationships.
Over all I think the show highlights a lot of real struggles of lesbian life, but it is also very heavy on the erotic side. I don't think it necessarily takes away from the show, but it shows the over sexualization of lesbians in media.
Now let's talk about "The 100"
"The 100" is not as problematic when it comes to sexual representation.
While there are a couple lesbian sex scenes, they are not explicitly shown. It shows before and after, but there are no actual sex scenes.
The "sex scenes" that "The 100" does have also don't take over the plot or feel forced.
Overall I think that the "sex scenes" in "The 100" were handled and incorporated very well. They were shown in the same way that the show portrays the heterosexual "sex scenes."
"The 100" does highlight one very annoying trope.
Spoiler below!!
One of the relationships in "The 100" is between Clarke and Lexa.
Their relationship was complicated and it took a while before they actually expressed their feelings for each other out loud.
They are one relationship that has a "sex scene" in the show, but unfortunately this is where the trope comes in.
The trope is that when lesbians are shown in media as soon as they have sex one of them dies or gets killed.
That is exactly what happens in "The 100." In the scene directly after they have sex Lexa gets shot and ultimately dies.
Why does it matter?
It matters because this is what young lesbians and people who are discovering their sexuality look up to.
This may be the only representation these people have of what being a lesbian is and what lesbian life is like.
That Brings us to "Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics" By James Paul Gee
Image from https://elmcip.net/person/james-paul-gee