A Question to Ponder

[hrj]

This will become more relevant when I write a review of the book I'm currently reading, but for your general consideration:

When a fantasy author writes something characterizable as a "lesbian fairy tale", why does the reading public seem to demand more justification for the presence of lesbians than for the presence of fairies?

Comments

[eowyna.livejournal.com]

because they don't disbelieve in lesbians?

[hrj.livejournal.com]

Um ... that's the whole point. If one doesn't disbelieve in lesbians, why would one consider them less inherently plausible as plot elements than one would consider fairies to be? It's like swallowing FTL travel but balking at the idea of other inhabitable planets.

[ursula]

It's a genre thing, surely. An axiom of fantasy novels is that fairies might show up. You won't buy the book if that assumption drives you up the wall.

[eowyna.livejournal.com]

I still think it is because they can suspend their disbelief about the existence of fairies, knowing in their heart of hearts that they are not real -- but they can't disbelieve in lesbians, much as they probably say that they do.

So - those talking probably profess that lesbians don't exist, but in their heart of hearts, are afraid they do.

I understand that the James Bond movie with the Space shuttle was considered more unrealistic for the use of the space shuttle as a setting than for all the other fantastic stuff he did. But the space shuttle does exist, and those other mad inventions did not.

[eowyna.livejournal.com]

Or maybe it's because the fairy fantasies of those complaining don't include lesbians. Their fantasies probably don't include ethnic groups that the readers don't consider cool, either.

[mariedeblois.livejournal.com]

I think "fairy tale" has expanded enough that it doesn't actually require the presence of fairies.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

The point being that I'm reading a novel that includes both lesbians and fairies, but in reading discussions of it online, I see a number of people complaining that the presence of lesbians in the story is of questionable plausibility, but nobody saying anything similar about the presence of fairies.

[duchessletitia.livejournal.com]

So, you mean that the people reading the book are complaining about the presence of lesbians? And the presence of lesbians is clearly stated in advance? I have no idea.
I am as confused as you are.

[ermine-rat.livejournal.com]

It's your book! If you want all fairies to be female, then the lesbian factor is pretty much airtight.

I guess it comes down to what the book will actually be about...fairies? lesbians? or a story where those things are secondary factors?

[cryptocosm.livejournal.com]

Readers are likely to be strongly predisposed not merely to accept, but to expect, fantasy elements in a work by someone identified as a "fantasy author". Even if openly lesbian characters were seen as unremarkable, it would be surprising to see their inclusion rising to the level of expectation in the context of 'fantasy' literature.

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

Because queer characters are supposed to stay in queer literature, where the icky gayness doesn't spill over into the space of 'normal' readers. Didn't you get the memo?!

Argh. This type of thing makes me furious. I had someone I respected really disappoint me when a vampire novel I recced to her left her cold because, and I quote "Vampires aren't supposed to be black."

Sometimes I lament the metric tons of cookie cutter formula books in several genres, and then sometimes I think that the readers are getting exactly what they want: more of the same, with a digit or two changed in the serial numbers.

[gunnora.livejournal.com]

Without knowing specifics, I can't tell, but in my reading experience it's not he audience, but the AUTHOR trying to do a little self-justification. For the longest time every bit of literature that had lesbians in it spent a huge amount of time either depicting them as deviants, or making a huge apologia for them.

Unless the fact that the woman is a lesbian is germane to the plot, I personally wouldn't ever focus on that. I think the way to go is to depict a lesbian as you would any other character. If their romance or lovemaking or relationship needs some description to move the plot forward, then you do that.

I get VERY tired of books with gay characters either explaining why they're really good people and not deviant pervs, or spending tons of time on the inner state of the gay character angsting about being gay when it's not germane to the plot.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

That is a damn good question, and one I can't answer at this pre-caffeinated hour in the morning. But, a very good question.

[wulfsdottir.livejournal.com]

Because people don't read fantasy to have their real life notions challenged, and there's still a widespread sense that lesbians should keep that part of themselves behind closed doors. I think that the lesbian characters must step on the personal taboos of those who complain -- these are the people who think nothing of seeing coworkers with pictures of heterosexual relationships (wedding photos, family portraits) in their cubicles, but would be startled by a wedding photo with two women or two men.

If lesbians are allowed to make even non-sex-related reference to their sexuality, others might have to think about how lesbians are real people who might be near them at work or in the supermarket or in the gym's locker room. And if lesbians are seen to exist, then others might have to acknowledge how their actions have harmed or hindered other actual people.

Nutshell: Fairies don't make them think about their privilege. They make the "credibility" argument not because they don't believe in lesbians, but because they don't want to believe that they have any responsibility to address cultural inequality.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I suppose your review will reveal whether you thought the author made an equally good job of portraying the lesbians and the fairies, but assuming that they did, it's probably to do with reader expectations of what sort of things are supposed to be in a fairy tale.