Custom, science and lesbianism (Flashback 26.01.08)

(Sunday Herald)

As a general rule, any mention of homosexuality evokes thoughts of male same sex relations. However, what of the females that are so engaged with persons of their own sex.

Lesbians are homosexual women who engage in same sex relationships. The Concise Oxford Dictionary 9th edition will show that the word lesbian came from the Greek word “Lesbos”, being an island in the Aegean Sea where the poetess Sappho lived. It is alleged that she was engaged in homosexuality.

Children usually learn pretty early that it is not okay to be a homosexual. However, certainly for us in Jamaica, the hostility towards female homosexuality is usually less than the hostility to male homosexuality. For this reason, male homosexuals have had it to say that they are being discriminated against when compared to their female counterparts.

I wonder whether the softer approach to female homosexuality has its roots in the traditional roles held by women in society. Historically, women were typically regarded as playing a lesser or supporting role to men. Hence any practices they engaged in that were considered abnormal may not have attracted as much attention as when a man did it.

Many calls have been made, usually from special interests, to re-look at homosexuality with a view to changing the laws that criminalise the practice. However, many Jamaicans appear to be unaware that under our law, the legal barriers are mainly against male homosexual expression and not against lesbianism. The Jamaican buggery laws as they are commonly termed, only punish male homosexual acts. Of course marriage and common-law union rights are restricted to heterosexual relations. Under Barbadian law, lesbian acts can attract a prison term of up to 10 years, and in that same island, the offence of buggery attracts life imprisonment. In Jamaica, the maximum penalty for buggery is 10 years in prison.

Science and lesbianism
Studies continue to look at the causes of lesbianism and some have been suggestive of a biological root. In one recent study on finger length patterns, it was said that lesbians are more likely to have male finger like patterns than straight women.

Whilst it is true that some straight women also had finger patterns similar to men and the measure between the patterns were very small, researchers indicated that the findings point to a biological cause for lesbianism.

In another study it was reported that lesbians are more likely to have hormonal imbalance that leads to infertility. This too suggested a biological cause. No doubt research will continue in this area.

As it relates to how lesbians relate and express themselves, it should be noted that whereas male homosexuals appear to be more oriented to physical expression, lesbians tend to be more emotional in theirs.

It is said that lesbians tend to have longer-term relationships than their male counterparts. Where sex is a part of the lesbian relationship, it is primarily an expression of the emotional bond between the two. However this does not mean that there may not be times of insecurity, possessiveness and manipulation in the relationship.

There have also been cases where the lovers become enmeshed in an emotionally dependent relationship where one or both parties find it difficult to live without the other. Some relate that they had unhealthy relationships with their mothers or that their mothers were weak women who allowed the men in the lives to abuse them in one way or the other.

Then there is the more popularly held view that some lesbians were raped or abused by men and hence they find relationships with women safer.

Lesbianism and society
Some still have the perception that lesbians are mostly masculine looking women. That is only true in some cases. Some lesbians are very feminine and like being women. You may even have one as a family member, friend, neighbour, colleague, employer or employee and not know. The traditional leeway given to women to express affection publicly, assists in keeping the reality of such relations hidden. The lessened horror expressed towards lesbians also allows for more favourable media attention in the form of sexually explicit movies and so forth.

As it relates to watching sexual activity, it is not unusual for straight men to enjoy seeing women kiss each other on screen or live. A threesome is also considered enjoyable, assuming it is two women with one man. I was talking to a group of fellows last year and lesbianism was one of the topics discussed. Only one of them said that as a man he is strongly against seeing two women kiss each other. The other guys appeared somewhat indifferent to the thought and tended to ignore the morality of the matter.

Most opposition to lesbian relations tends to come from religious groups. Most church groups within Judeo-Christianity frown on such practices for the reason that they are not only regarded as sinful, but are said to be not in keeping with God’s original intent for human beings. Indeed some Christians, irrespective of the various studies and theories of lesbian formation, would conclude that if God through the Messiah could raise mankind from the dead, then why couldn’t He change a lesbian as he would a thief or a liar. Of course not everyone holds to such spiritual positions and even some persons of faith do not necessarily share such approaches to human sexuality. Churches that cater to gays and lesbians, in looking at the Holy Scriptures, have their own interpretations. Mainline churches in some parts of the world have for instance taken votes on whether openly gay clergy should be permitted to serve.

The penetration of the homosexual influence is increasing and appears to be strengthened by both subliminal and some not so subliminal messages in various media. In Jamaica, there also seems to be an increase in lesbian activity in a few high schools for girls.

As the pendulum swings in the Western world, it is not unforeseeable that the calls to normalise lesbian relations will increase. It is said that in the time of the ancient Greeks, homosexuality was accepted. Could we see the day when there is a return to this kind of acceptance, at least where women are concerned? The jury is out on that one and we await the verdict.

Stokeley Marshall is an attorney-at-law. He may be reached at stokeleymarshall@yahoo.com