“Lesbian, Maybe?“ (digital illustration, 2018) 🤷🏻♀️👩❤️👩🤷🏻♀️
#tbt to this simple line drawing and the conversation that inspired it from a couple years ago, when I wasn’t as savvy with screen capturing the entire profiles of the men who messaged me, but I assume this profile was blank. Current me probably would not have replied to this guy’s message, but I am proud of this young tale…a profile with NO photos really should not be requesting phone numbers, even if it was in jest (but was it?). And that leads me to a thought…how often do you encounter a guy who pulls the whole “I was only kidding/can’t you take a joke” song and dance once their “joke” isn’t received well?
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There are many other things to unpack within this short exchange. The whole “women shouldn’t express anger” comment pops out to me now, as I begin to learn how critically important being able to express anger, rage and disappointment are to my identity as a woman. Lastly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a lesbian, but that fact that this man somehow was implying that, because I was angry (a traditionally dominantly expressed trait) I might secretly be a lesbian (again, lots to unpack there) is just ignorant.