Book SummaryGirls Can Kiss Now, by Jill Gutowitz

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Girls Can Kiss Now

The transformation of how LGBTQ themes and identities are portrayed within popular culture as time progresses.

The book explores the transformation of mainstream media from an era where LGBTQ identities were scarcely recognized to a modern period where they are celebrated and embraced. Gutowitz outlines five distinct eras, each marked by different societal views and ways of portraying the stories of the queer community in the media.

The shift from overlooking and mishandling stories about queer individuals in media to recognizing and normalizing them signifies a notable transformation.

Gutowitz argues that the representation of LGBTQ individuals in various media forms plays a crucial role in shaping societal perceptions of queerness and has a tangible impact on the everyday lives of those who identify as queer. She chronicles the evolution of mainstream culture, which has shifted from ignoring narratives of the queer community to now acknowledging and valuing them.

The initial era was marked by a scarcity of representation for the LGBTQ community and a prevalence of straight storylines in the dominant media channels.

The author describes a period in history she names the "Scrubbing" era, which spans from the earliest records up to the 1980s, a time when the presence of queerness, especially among women, was systematically erased. She underscores the importance of recognizing historical figures like Queen Anne, Anne Lister, and Virginia Woolf, who had same-sex relationships that were often overlooked or downplayed in traditional historical narratives. Gutowitz emphasizes that the documentation of same-sex relationships, especially those involving notable figures like the former First Lady, often went unnoticed or were minimized, thus reinforcing a prevailing inclination toward heterosexual perspectives in historical accounts and mainstream media. The author contends that the deliberate omission of LGBTQ stories has cultivated an atmosphere where same-sex attraction is deemed taboo and unseen, leading to feelings of isolation and obscurity among individuals who identify as LGBTQ.

Context

• Queen Anne of Great Britain, who reigned from 1702 to 1714, had close relationships with women like Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and Abigail Masham. These relationships have been subject to historical speculation regarding their nature, with some historians suggesting they may have been romantic or intimate, though this is debated.

Other Perspectives

• The term "Scrubbing" suggests a deliberate and systematic effort to remove LGBTQ presence from history, which may not accurately reflect the complexity of historical recording, including the influence of prevailing social norms, taboos, and the lack of understanding or recognition of LGBTQ identities in past centuries.
• The interpretation of historical relationships through a modern lens of sexuality may not always align with the understanding and expression of such relationships in their own time, potentially leading to anachronistic conclusions about the nature of these relationships.
• The concept of taboo is culturally relative, and in some cultures, same-sex attraction may have been taboo or not, independent of the visibility of LGBTQ stories in media or historical accounts.

In the period when narratives featuring characters from the LGBTQ+ community began to surface, they were frequently portrayed in an exaggerated or negatively stereotyped way.

Gutowitz observes that the 1980s, marked by increased visibility, saw a rise in the number of stories emerging about LGBTQ individuals, though these narratives were frequently depicted in an overstated and unfavorable manner. She references instances such as the one involving Billie Jean King, who became publicly known due to a lawsuit over palimony, and the relationship between Whitney Houston and her close associate Robyn Crawford, which became a source of damaging gossip and speculation. During this era, stories featuring LGBTQ+ themes frequently portrayed relationships as covert, perpetuating the idea that being homosexual was an uncomfortable secret that needed to be hidden. The author argues that overly dramatized representations of LGBTQ narratives can alienate queer identities, sending a harmful message to young people exploring their sexual identities.

Other Perspectives

• It's important to recognize that narratives are diverse, and while some did perpetuate negative stereotypes, others may have challenged them or offered more positive or complex portrayals, even if those were less common or mainstream.
• The unfavorable depictions of LGBTQ...

Girls Can Kiss Now Summary The author's journey through maturation and the discovery of their sexual identity.

Gutowitz weaves together stories of her own development, transitioning from a period of concealment and shame to an odyssey of self-discovery, while highlighting the negative impact that prevailing social standards had on her understanding of her sexual identity.

Throughout their adolescence, the author struggled with a sense of embarrassment and the need to hide their sexual identity.

Gutowitz candidly addresses her struggle with internalized homophobia throughout her adolescence, recognizing that the negative portrayal of LGBTQ+ identities in various media forms significantly influenced it. The lack of lesbian role models who were both supportive and identifiable, coupled with the often negative connotations associated with the word "gay," caused her to hide and feel uneasy about her same-sex attraction. Driven by an intense urge to conform to traditional heterosexual norms, she consistently endeavored to exhibit behaviors that were widely accepted and to gain the approval of her peers.

She sought affirmation and a feeling of being ordinary in her interactions with men.

Gutowitz candidly recounts her pursuit of male validation and her strenuous attempts to fit...

Girls Can Kiss Now Summary The book explores media critiques that often reinforce traditional gender roles and misogyny, highlighting how crucial media portrayal is for individuals identifying as LGBTQ.

Gutowitz explores how media narratives from the early 2000s have shaped LGBTQ individuals, particularly women, highlighting how authentic representation plays a crucial role in shaping societal views and providing validation to those who recognize their personal stories within the wider LGBTQ community.

Pop culture in the 2000s was rife with harmful stereotypes and inaccurate portrayals of queer women.

Gutowitz examines how the media represents LGBTQ individuals, particularly highlighting the negative effects of reductive portrayals of women in the early 2000s. She contends that such portrayals fostered self-directed homophobia, complicating her journey to embrace her sexual identity.

The "MILF" trope and reductive depictions of older queer women.

The author denounces the "MILF" stereotype for reducing mature women to mere objects of male desire, thereby dehumanizing them. She argues that such a stereotype, often represented by excessively sexualized characters, continues to promote the idea that a woman's value is tied to her attractiveness and youth, thereby ignoring the complex and diverse experiences of women who identify as queer.

Context

• For queer...

Girls Can Kiss Now Summary The interplay between individual identity, the broader LGBTQ community, and the realm of popular culture.

This section explores the intricate relationship between popular culture, personal identity, and the community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, highlighting how media simultaneously reflects and influences societal views, and examining the methods through which these individuals find relevance and establish connections with widespread cultural material.

Popular media serves as a distorted mirror that both reflects and reinforces societal views regarding LGBTQ+ identities.

Gutowitz argues that popular culture often mirrors and sustains the prevailing societal views on queerness. She notes how the portrayal of LGBTQ individuals across different media types reflects the shift in societal attitudes, highlighting the connection between increased community acceptance and the emergence of more positive and diverse representations of sexual identities.

The author's deep-seated discomfort regarding same-sex attraction was intertwined with her engagement in popular culture.

The writer reflects on how deeply her relationship with pop culture was shaped by the homophobia she had absorbed. Growing up without lesbian figures to identify with...