Women who prefer “lesbian” to “queer”: generational continuity and discontinuity

ABSTRACT

The legitimacy of the term and identity “lesbian” has long been contested, but has come under renewed scrutiny, with some suggesting it is exclusionary and dated. Along with these suggestions is the implication of a generational divide. Supposedly, older women—unaware of contemporary queer discourses—are more likely use the term “lesbian,” whereas younger women are more likely to choose queer affiliated identities. In this paper we draw on survey data investigating why some women might seek to retain the identity “lesbian.” These narratives complicate simplistic accounts of a generational divide. We discuss themes of cross-generational continuity in participants’ sense of historical connection; connection to politics; lesbian visibility; and specificity and boundaries. The theme of lesbian community demonstrated discontinuity: participants of all ages agreed on the importance of lesbian community, but there was generational discontinuity in the access that participants had to it. Our respondents were aware of, and reflective about, current debates situating the category “lesbian” as problematic or obsolete, and nonetheless found utility and meaning in the term. Through their analysis we hope to destabilize discussions about a generational divide defining the use of the term “lesbian” with corresponding questions around ongoing relevance.

Keywords:

• Lesbian identity
• generational differences
• lesbian visibility
• lesbian community

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jessica Megarry

Dr Jessica Megarry is a Lecturer in Political Science in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Her research interests include women’s political communication, feminist activism and digital politics. She has recently published a monograph comparing feminist organizing in the Women’s Liberation Movement and on social media: Megarry, J. (2020). The Limitations of Social Media Feminism: No Space of Our Own, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

Catherine Orian Weiss

Dr Catherine Orian Weiss teaches in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. She writes on feminist and anti-racist theory, with a particular interest in connections between care and sexuality in the context of migration. She has also written on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on prevention of violence against women.

Meagan Tyler

Dr Meagan Tyler is a Senior Lecturer, based in the Centre for People, Organisation and Work (CPOW) at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Her research interests center on the politics of women’s sexuality, men’s violence against women, and the political economy of the sex industry. She has also written on the gendered power dynamics of disasters and emergency management.

Kate Farhall

Dr Kate Farhall is a researcher in the Centre for People, Organisation and Work at RMIT University. Her work focuses on using critical feminist analyses to address gender inequality in a range of contexts, with a particular focus on questions of sexuality and violence against women. Kate’s primary research examines how non-metropolitan experiences and geographies impact the intersection of domestic and family violence and work. Her other major projects reflect her expertise in feminist theory, regional perspectives, better work and media analysis.