The Lesbian Experience Of The Early And Mid Twentieth...

The Lesbian experience in the early and mid-twentieth century seemed to be more obscured than the queer male subcultures. For many lesbians of the early and mid-twentieth century, to live as a queer woman and to still maintain social respectability meant that lesbians often had to live in the closet. I believe that that lesbian subculture was unknown and ignored because it was impossible for women to claim their identity as a lesbian; they were frequently viewed from the outside as sick, confused, or sinful and no one would want to be considered one. Being a lesbian woman in the streets was unsafe for them, as they were vulnerable to be followed and harassed by men. Finally, in this era working-class women were working more and had to keep silent about their sexual identity because it could cost losing their jobs. Although, by the 1920’s there were already a few established communities of women who identified themselves as lesbians, in places such as Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and New York. Few women, regardless of their sexual experiences, became part of this newly lesbian community. For instance, Faderman mentioned, that in small towns, heterosexuals seemed oblivious that homosexuals even existed; therefore, a woman that was not yet married was known as a spinster, who is an unmarried woman, typically an older woman beyond the usual age for marriage (63). Lesbians living in larger cities found an existence that extended beyond the home and into the bar. These spacesShow MoreRelatedTrans And Transgender : An Umbrella Term931 Words   |  4 Pageshatred and even violence against their person (CMHA). These individuals may experience multiple forms of marginalization. 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Although there has been a growing acceptance among certain Christian denominations regarding homosexuality in modern society, the Catholic Church holds a