Do You Really Think The L Word Is A True Representation Of Gay Women?

Question

Yes, there are many attractive gay women, but I think the L Word fails to represented the "average" gay woman.

I guess the gay entertainment world is really no different than the heterosexual world.

Answer 1

I think, like most things on TV, this show started out with a kernel of real-world truth to it, then exaggerated it to turn it into entertainment. What do I mean by that?

To start with, the women on the show are simply too pretty, too skinny... too typically Hollywood. But I understand that... it's a TV show after all, and it needs ratings to survive. It needs to appeal to a larger audience than just lesbians... and the "hot" girls reel in the non-lesbian viewers.

Then there are the storylines. It's a soap opera, which automatically means overdramatization. But again, the storylines do start with a kernel of reality. My friends and I can relate to the general themes of the storylines, but rarely is real life as... dramatic... as the events on the show.

The compeling part of the show, at least for me, are the friendships between the characters. Now that aspect of the show... that feels very real. The characters are always there to support each other and celebrate with each other, in bad times and good (respectively), just like in real life... no matter what.

If the show were to represent the average gay woman, as you say it fails to do (and I agree), the storylines would need to be toned down and more drawn out, and let's face it, there would need to be at least a few heavier, less fashionable, and less telegenic women on the show.

I'd be in favor of them making those changes to the show, but I think the show would lose its other (non-lesbian) audiences, and the show probably wouldn't last too long.

I'm hopeful, though, that in the near future, more realistic shows will succeed on cable channels that are targeted specifically to our audience. I imagine that day isn't too far off.

In the mean time, though, I plan to keep watching The L Word, despite its flaws.

Answer 2

I have season 1 and 2, and when the cost comes down I plan on purchasing the rest, however I do not like the fact that the L Word is supposely strictly meaning "L", cause it isn't. The first epsiode was disgusting with the hetro and bisexual stuff that didn't need to be in there. I have noticed with most lesbian shows and or movies that it is either a male director orr in this case a hard looking butch director that places hetro and bi in the same "L" category. How can they call it the "LWord when it isn't? I don't like the Shane character either, makes her look like a sexual drug addict, and why are they depicitng lesbians in this manner? It's ridicoulous. Maybe they should add in safe sex practices and just leave out all the nonsense. The other stories I enjoyed watching though, although it is hard to understand why lesbian women want a bisexual who sleeps with men,some of it does get crazy. I have no clue what the 3rd season will hold, but I will see what happens. I can understand your dislike with it, but this is what they do with anything lesbian, they distort it, and twist things around to attract all kinds of audiences..

Answer 3

Actually, I think they half way represent the world of gay women. I myself have a close knit group of friends and we all watch the show..but the thing is, every one of us acts like a particular person on the show..we also have the issue of sleeping with others and them joining the group after the break up and so on. I know that it is a soap opera, but the issues they focus on and story lines they write are very real in the real world of lesbians and their lives to some extent at least.

Answer 4

I'm a straight married woman and I really really like the show. I think its a tv show targeted at gay women. I think its just as made up as any TV drama. Its nice that theres a show that portrays lesbians (or women in general) in such a multi-faceted, positive light.

I'll say this though: They really streached it this week. Not only would it be impossible to find a complete helicopter crew of FEMALE National Guards (wo)men, the chances of them all being gay and out defies calculation.

Answer 5

In a sense it does. From my experiences, all the lesbians I have known go around sleeping with each other. Rarely do you find a couple that is genuinely happy and faithful; much like the show. I personally do not find the actresses in The L Word or entertainment in general that attractive. Most of them are to damn skinny to me and they look like hell without the makeup.

Answer 6

TV is tv... on almost all shows, they base thier writing on what the writers see or feel... gay entertainment world is really no different than the heterosexual world.

Answer 7

I think only to some extent, but it does seem more fictitous than real. It's a lesbian soap opera after all. If you got the Logo network you'll get to see a greater spectrum of gay oriented media.

Answer 8

I can see reality being some how less exagerating but we have to remember its a show and the escence of gay women world is show on the screen..

Answer 9

No it is not! I have never in my lesbian life seen that many skinny lesbians in one room. I watched it for one season and never again. I think that program gives lesbians a bad name.

Answer 10

I think it does to an extent.. but i agree with you