Heterosexism, Perfection, and Popularity: Young Lesbians' Experiences of the High School Social Scene

Abstract

This article explores the ways in which high school girl popularity is constructed as heterosexual and normatively gendered, leaving lesbian adolescents on the periphery of the high school social scene. Based upon data from a larger critical life history study with adolescent lesbians, this article explores their experiences of school, friendship, and their attempts to fit in with social groups in school. The young women in this research associated popular with straight and attractive, sometimes using the words interchangeably, and identified the required characteristics of a popular girl as looking perfect and a fluency in boy-talk. Girls less concerned with their appearance or with boys were marked as outsiders in the high school culture. How schools participate in reproducing heterosexist popularity is also discussed.

I made good grades—I was in a lot of activities but still—it didn't mean much to people unless, you know, I have a boyfriend or I'm chasing after guys with the rest of the girls, you know.

—Amy, high school senior