In the first post , I mentioned how the topic splintered into a multitude of other subjects, each very interesting. One of these were the issue of "straight-acting".
The phrase in itself seems innocuous enough, but when you look at it more closely, a slew of red flags pop up, at least in my mind. Since I love list type presentations, I will be doing one, focusing on three main questions.
What is "straight-acting"?
Any sub-categories?
Why is it an issue?
What is "straight-acting"?
Wikipedia defines straight-acting as not adhering to what is typically seen as gay mannerisms, effeminate and feminine/butch and "manly", that is. This includes male-identifying homosexual people who do not act in a stereotypical feminine way, and female-identifying homosexual people not acting in the stereotypical "butch" way.
Straight acting focus on the stereotypes of hetero-normative male and female roles, as well as the stereotypes connected with lesbians and gay men.
"Some gay men want to achieve hegemonic masculinity to overcome gay effeminate images" - Shinsuke Eguchi, 2009. Eguchi, along with Tim Berling, also proposes a possible connection to the phenomenon of sissyphobia (the fear of presenting oneself as effeminate).
Sub-categories
Urban Dictionary mentions Lipstick Lesbian as a possible sub-category to Straight Acting. According to the Dictionary, a Lipstick Lesbian is a feminine presenting lesbian, usually interested in make-up, clothes, flowers, and lingerie. A Lipstick Lesbian does not adhere to the stereotype of a lesbian as a butch female.
Why is this an issue?
Anytime something is there to perpetuate a stereotype, we need to approach it with care, but make sure that the stereotype is questioned. When it comes to the term "straight-acting", not only one stereotype is used. This one term is making use of the hetero-normative stereotypes of male and female roles, as well as the social stereotypes on how homosexual individuals should behave. As with all stereotypes, defining an individual based on a single, socially constructed idea ("butch", "bull dyke", "flaming", "queen", "sissy") can be extremely damaging, so of course there will be people who want to rebel against simplistic categories. Sadly, fighting one stereotype by adopting another just pushes the problem in front of us.
On the other hand, the use of straight-acting can be just a way of describing a desired attribute, both in oneself and in a partner. Straight-acting dot com challenges the idea that acting more masculine as a gay male or more feminine as a lesbian is somehow trying to deny who you are. "Don't discriminate against people that express their preference!" - StraightActing.com
Questioning the "acting" part may also cause pain if it's done without consideration. "Men who use the expression 'straight-acting' may express resentment that
critics claim the term implies they are acting and not being their true
selves." - Jay Clark
Ending thoughts
In a world in which covering is prevalent in all kinds of media, in a world in which children face persecution by their peers for not adhering to stereotypical mannerisms, it is a logical thought to want to hide at least parts of who you are. However, we, as bystanders, do not have the right to make judgements or question someone else' presentation of self. Who are we to criticize? We can't know if someone is acting to fit in or if it's their personality. We do not have the right to decide what is right or wrong for someone else.
All we have the right to do is offer support, generosity, and kindness.
DFTBA
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