What is Lesbian: Meaning, Possible Signs, Challenges

Lesbian – When females realize they feel attracted to other females, they often wonder if this makes them lesbian (same-sex attraction) or heterosexual (sometimes known as “straight”). Lots of females describe having lesbian experiences or emotions, but they do not identify as lesbians or homosexuals. However, being attracted to the same gender is totally normal, just like other attractions. Let’s learn all about lesbians in this article.

What does lesbian mean?

The word “lesbian” comes from the name of the Greek island Lesbos on which Sappho was born. She was part of that little collective of ancient Greek women who would write poems featuring lesbian themes. The team usually refers to a woman who is physically, sexually, and romantically attracted to another woman. They can be identified as non-binary which means someone whose gender identity is neither a man nor woman and they’re attracted to women. However, They have periods in every month just like a normal girl.

During ancient times, this term and its meaning have been misunderstood. This brought significant challenges to those who identified as lesbians, they were not considered and in fact, disregarded. But, over time, it revolutionized and has a meaning along with a definite community i.e. LGBTQ advocating equal rights, representation, and most importantly acceptance in society. In fact, they have more representation of themselves in movies, books, TV shows, literature, etc. However, this representation is not really perfect but as the society evolves, so too does the understanding and the representation of them.

However, they come from different realms of life and their experiences may vary depending on their race, class, geography, background, and personal circumstances. Due to these factors, they face additional challenges but their community continues to support them and fight for their rights and representation in society.

What could be the possible signs of being lesbian?

They differ when it comes to defining them as they may vary on the basis of their characteristics, relationships, and feelings but some share common experiences or feelings, they can be –

Their attraction, feelings, and sexual connection towards women more than men.
They might feel an emotional connection and bond more with women than men.
When they start to feel more understood and comfortable in LGBTQ+ spaces.
Analyzing the sexual characteristics and finding out that it resonates with those of lesbians.
They may start to daydream and fantasize themselves being in a relationship with women either emotionally or sexually.
They may start to feel unfulfilled and unsatisfied after getting into a relationship with men even if the relationship seems perfect on its surface.
They may feel comfortable, relaxed, and happy in the same-sex environment as everything relates to them.

Cultural representation

Cultural representation is basically how lesbians are portrayed on different platforms like TV shows, movies, literature, books, etc, and how it impacts different people’s views and opinions of lesbians.

During ancient times, they were often disregarded and shown in a negative way. But now if we see, the perspective has been revolutionized and they are given a distinct status in the nation. We cannot say that the perspective changed completely, there is a small percentage of our society that hasn’t accepted lesbians yet.

In books, authors like Audre Lorde and Jeanette Winterson have written about lesbians in such a way that they look affirming and positive and bring a positive impact on society. During past lives, lesbian words were not clearly mentioned in books and literature, they were either hidden or not clearly talked about. This made a negative impact. Artists like Melissa Etheridge and Hayley Kiyoko created such music vocals where they represented lesbians as part of who they really are and they have a life too. It is another way of expressing them.

Lesbian relationships and family dynamics

A relationship is a bond based on mutual connection, feelings, trust, support, and love. People in relationships have a strong emotional connection and support each other in ups and downs.

They also have a relationship and have a strong mutual trust and connection like any other couple but they face discrimination in terms of acceptance and might face challenges as society has different views for them but they do get support from the LGBTQ+ community which encourages them and build their connection.

When we talk about family in lesbian couples, they either adopt children or get them through surrogacy methods. They raise their children the same way heterosexual couples do. Even research studies have mentioned that the love and care children get through lesbian parents are the same as they get through heterosexual parents, it doesn’t differ nor does it affect their lifestyle. Although, they might face some challenges here as well as a part of society is still unwilling to accept the same-sex couple and their families.

Challenges and Discrimination

Society has altered dramatically and started to accept lesbian community but there are some parts and areas where they face significant challenges and hurdles that impact various aspects of their lives. There are certain challenges and discrimination they face when it comes to their acceptance in society, one of the primary issues of discrimination that occurs in various parts of their lives can be related to work, housing, and even health care. When society gets to know their gender interest, their perspective towards them changes, they do not accept them the same way they used to before they got to know. This can lead to a feeling of isolation or anxiety amongst them.

Additionally, there are certain legal challenges as well such as securing parental rights, marriage equality, or protection against discrimination. These challenges and discrimination make it harder for them to sustain their normal lives and be open in public. They might face family rejection and internalized homophobia which can lead to mental health issues. They don’t feel fully accepted and safe both in public and private places due to which they start to feel hesitant while stepping outside.

Although there have been various communities introduced for them to have legal and social rights such as the LGBTQ+ community that provides them legal assurance and acceptability in society. They feel strength and greater acceptance in these communities. This gives them a feeling of belongingness and a safe environment.

Communities and Organizations

There are various communities formed for lesbians to show them support, a sense of belongingness, a safe environment, mutual trust, and comfortability.

These communities ensure lesbian’s rights and representation in society like any other human being. In these communities and organizations, they share their experiences, concerns, issues, and other related matters that they might not feel comfortable sharing with others. One major community is LGBTQ+ wherein they focus on legal rights for them, this community is a legal community that provides them representation in society, resolving issues like marriage inequality, discrimination, etc. The other legal organizations are the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). These communities are developed and designed to protect the legal rights of them.

There are health and wealth organizations as well wherein they provide health care facilities including mental health, physical health-related concerns, etc. Over time they are given the required recognition and support by these communities and organizations. This brings surety in them that they are being heard, considered, and given the right equalities.

A Note from Kamarth

In conclusion, Lesbian women have faced a lot of significant challenges throughout history and this has affected them a lot. They didn’t get the legal rights, or recognition that they deserved. They have been through numerous challenges from discrimination to healthcare equality but this has now evolved and there are various organizations and communities formed that provide them the legal rights and recognition they deserve.

They provide them a sense of belongingness, a feeling that they are being considered in society, trust, a safe place, and a comfortable environment where they can share their experiences, their issues, their concerns, etc. As we all are well aware of the fact that things change, so do the people. People will change, their perception towards them will change too, and soon they will understand their emotions, and feelings and start to accept and value them the way they are without objecting.

Some Additional Doubts

Question: How do they get to know that they are lesbian?
Answer: When they start to feel comfort around women, start crushing over and feeling a sense of attraction to women, that’s when they get to know that they fall under the category of lesbians.

Question: Can lesbians get married and have children?
Answer: Same-sex marriages are not legal in India, but the law grants some limited legal recognition to same-sex couples.

Question: What is the difference between being lesbian and being bisexual?
Answer: Lesbian means you’re attracted to and feel connected to only women. They feel safer and comfortable around women than men while bisexual means you’re attracted to both men and women.

Question: How to overcome the feeling of confronting families and friends?
Answer: Being lesbian is not a crime, after all, they are humans too and they can have feelings of attraction toward women more than men. One cannot stop anyone from getting attracted to a same-sex person. Just accept it and confront your families and friends without hesitating as you are not the only one feeling the same.

Question: How is the first Lesbian experience?
Answer: Experiences may vary from one person to another, one may get neutral reactions from their families and friends while another may feel hesitant to talk about it.

Reference Links
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/lesbian-sexuality
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314946177_Lesbian_Relationships
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45094/
https://libguides.uky.edu/lesbianstudies/Research
https://www.nypl.org/collections/nypl-recommendations/guides/gay-lesbian-studies
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4752184/

What is Lesbian: Meaning, Possible Signs, Relationships, Challenges

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