By Ulla Kelly
It's yet another stereotype, but the words "dyke" and "drama"
frequently stroll hand in hand through our little lesbian ghetto. We
all roll our eyes at the notion and pretend it only happens to other
dykes.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and indulge in some rather
sexist stereotyping. I suggest that in heterosexual relationships, it's
possible that it's the female of the species that indulges more in
things like discussions of emotions, and that this is what ends up
being labelled 'drama'. So a lesbian relationship (consisting of two
women) is double the drama. Perhaps we're also a little hard on
ourselves and each other - I'm reaching into my bag of stereotypes
again here - because of that other lesbian cliche i.e. that we "meet,
mate, merge." I suspect that in some ways, heterosexuality is simpler,
and that either gender can take time out occasionally and just find a
little comfort in the fact that they really do not understand some
things about the opposite gender.
Two paragraphs in and already I'm guilty of shameless
generalisations about sexuality and gender. I am going to be lynched by
a bunch of comfortably shod, granola chomping, placard wielding dykes.
Perhaps it would be good if we remembered that nobody ever
really and truly understands themselves, let alone another human being,
regardless of their bent or gender. Perhaps we shouldn't expect a total
mind-meld just because we have the same kind of genitals and have
synchronised our menstrual cycles. Perhaps we should watch the
occasional bitchfight between queens and remember that not only dykes
are dramatic. Now, of course, I'll be lynched by shrieking,
handbag-wielding queens.
Perhaps all anyone really needs to do is go back to very basic
spiritual principles - christianity's "do unto others," and buddhism's
"right behaviour" and so on. Maybe we just need to be nicer to each
other (while retaining our marvellously Oprahtastic, self-actualised,
aware selves; naturally).
If anyone needs me, I'll be getting lynched in the lotus position.
