“Lezibian/mulezi”: adoption of “globalized” lesbian identity and secondary self-labels among same-sex attracted women in Harare

Abstract

Drawing from ethnographic research, incorporating informal conversations, semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion, the paper explores the subjective meanings and construction of the “lesbian” identity in a “hostile” environment among selected same-sex attracted women in Harare. While the globally circulating identity labels are loaded with historical baggage which can be limiting or confusing in non-western contexts, most of the study participants related to some of the labels that are prominent in the present-day, western-inspired global discourse on same-sex relations. Self-styling and the quest to exhibit masculine decorum was a central aspect in the narratives of most “butch” identifying women. For most butch identifying women being lesbian was closely interwoven with considerations about one’s gendered self. However not all participants were comfortable with the circulating identity labels as they found them restrictive and loaded. While subjective preferences of the participants demonstrate complexity in how “lesbianism” is locally constructed and experienced, the lesbian identity is certainly not obsolete in Harare among same-sex attracted women.

Keywords:

• Lesbian
• women
• self-styling
• Harare

Conclusion

Despite the absence of significant affirmation through supportive socio-cultural and legal structures of the lesbian identity in Zimbabwe, study participants in Harare were mostly familiar with and embraced it. Participants had the agency to go beyond popularized victimhood by “proudly” claiming and affirming their same-sex desires and identified with the globalized lesbian identity and its secondary self-labels such as butch and femme which have origins in North America.

Firstly, in the study, participants constructed lesbianism as almost exclusively the absence of sexual, emotional and physical attraction to men but desire for women. Largely, being lesbian in Harare was closely interwoven with considerations about one’s gendered self particularly for butch identifying lesbians. It was common for butch identifying participants to refer to themselves as a man and embraced hegemonic masculinity. Similar to other contexts, in Harare masculine decorum and practices were central to claiming an “authentic” butch lesbian identity, which could be expressed through clothing preferences and normalizing multiple concurrent partnerships. While one could perceive the butch identity as imitating heterosexual masculinity, the identity did challenge and stretch what it means to be a woman. Femme identifying participants while expressing their same-sex desire, they largely constructed it in contrast to butch.

Secondly, while a number of participants could easily relate to the lesbian category and the associated secondary self-labels, it is of import to note that some narratives challenged and problematized this during fieldwork, as some preferred not to be identified as lesbian. Being identified with widely circulated same-sex identity labels in Zimbabwe invoked feelings of inferiority, marginality and less value, hence rejecting the lesbian label was an attempt to shrug this off. Thus, as argued by Muparamoto and Moen (2020), the dominant Anglo-American labels that circulate in a globalized world are not simply copied and pasted by people but can perhaps better be regarded as inputs in the always ongoing process people engage in of figuring out who they are in relation to local realities.

In conclusion, while there is provocative problematization of the lesbian identity as obsolete, in Harare the lesbian identity is very much alive. The stories told by study participants and the terms they use to refer to themselves and each other testify of the adoption of the globally circulated lesbian identity label and secondary self-labels among same-sex attracted women in Harare.

Notes

1 There is often told portrayal of non-gender conforming women being victims, who are castigated and go underground as if they do not have agency.

2 People of mixed race are often referred to in popular Zimbabwean lingo as coloureds.

Additional information

Funding

International Association for the Study of Sexuality, Culture and Sexuality.

Notes on contributors

Nelson Muparamoto

Nelson Muparamoto is a postdoctoral fellow at the WITS Center for Diversity Studies, University of the Witwatersrand and a Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe in the Department of Demography, Settlement and Development. Nelson is diversity and social inclusion advocate and works closely with marginalized communities in Zimbabwe in advocacy for social justice and social inclusion.