all 10 comments

[–]oofreesouloo 19 insightful - 1 fun19 insightful - 0 fun20 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Wow. Just wow. I'm so sorry. Honestly, I would be wary of the women who scream "I'm gaaaaaay, I'm so gay" all the time. They could actually be lesbian or bi, but I honestly think true lesbians are actually really usually discreet, whereas fake lesbians (aka bisexual women or straight or "queer" women) tend to be very loud and make sure everyone knows they're gay. That's the most obvious sign I can think of.

[–][deleted] 5 insightful - 4 fun5 insightful - 3 fun6 insightful - 4 fun -  (0 children)

Idk there’s also the ones like me who thought of it all day long for over a decade and come out late that get a little too excited lol

[–]Jaded 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

To me a lesbian or female-leaning bisexual is someone who centers women in her life, NOT men. Unfortunately, it seems that the popular conception of this is that this must mean you center your attraction for women, rather than women themselves. It's like a male gaze oriented view of your relationship with women rather than a female gaze oriented relationship with women.

When a woman takes a male gazed view by centering their attraction towards women, they tend to treat the women in their lives as objects of consumption. They find more fulfillment in viewing women sexually or as objects to be acted upon.

However, when a woman takes a female gazed view, they center the women themselves. They find fulfillment in uplifting women and take pride in seeing them act for themselves. This does not mean that she never views women sexually or never wants to do things to them, but it just tends to be secondary (though still enjoyable) and not the sole focus of the way she values women. Her hobbies and media consumption more often features female leads and artists, though not necessarily exclusively, particularly depending on how niche her interests and values are. If a television show or book series for example does focus on males though, they tend to exemplify "female values" so to speak, and even masculine warrior type males will demonstrate nurturing, supportive, and community-oriented behaviors and relationships. Think Luke Skywalker and Eragon.

Above these points though, a truly lesbian or female-leaning bisexual woman does not center men. That means she is not constantly complaining about men, bemoaning the patriarchy, or talking scathingly of heterosexual relationships. Of course she is going to be aware of the issues surrounded toxic masculinity, patriarchal values, and heteronormativity-- as well as the unique ways these affect our lives as lesbians and those lives of bisexual women. She will likely be engaged with current events and social issues, and be able to converse critically on them. She may even be a feminist activist or a radfem. However her daily conversation will not be constantly filled with criticisms and snarky asides of men, because lesbians and female-leaning bisexuals have lives, hobbies, interests, and daily activities that have nothing to do with men and which they would much rather talk about and enagage with.

[–]Innisfree 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

This is the most comprehensive and on point description.

[–]Innisfree 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Some red flags in my experience:

  • vagueness in the language she uses when talking about her attraction, or the fact that she's never been attracted to women she met, just celebrities/movie stars
  • a one-sidedness of her worldview: saying "Don't you just hate men!" over and over.
  • focus on one aspect of a relationship to the detriment of others - like pda (this is the domain of the girls who used to ID as bi for cool points)
  • I've had quite a few times the look of incomprehension from so-called lesbians when I would bring up specifically lesbian experiences, like lonelinesss and the small likelyhood of finding a partner. It's as if these women realize deep down that they will always have the option of men and they just stare at you like: "What you talking about?"

But the thing is people are complicated, there's internalised shame and self-esteem issues and we do change and grow out of things. As long as people are not treating you like an object but show a genuine interest in you as a person, I think they deserve a chance.

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[deleted]

    [–]throwaway080808 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    100% sure this happens

    [–]ravenflies[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Thank you - she said she's always known she felt this way but that she thought it'd be different with me. I don't get it honestly

    [–]whateverman 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    If she loves talking about how much she hates men all the time, that’s a bad sign. If she has had a really bad heartbreak with a man, tread carefully if it was a recent breakup. Being a lesbian should not be centred around misandry.

    I’m so sorry that happened to you.

    [–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

    Oh my gosh, this is my worst nightmare. I'm too inexperienced to have any useful advice, but I'm so sorry she did this to you.

    [–]ravenflies[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Thank you, I hope it never happens to you!