#lorber

Gender is a controversial topic that affects society on a daily basis. Gender is based on the way humans dress and act in society. The social construct of gender are gender roles and social groups. According to Lorber, “gender defines a social difference that define ‘man’ and ‘woman’ and it divides us into gender. Lorber talks about how gender is one whole specific topic and there are subtopics that lead up to as why gender is a huge impact on society. The article also talks about how men and women don’t get treated equally due to their questionable abilities. 

Judith Lorber author of “The Social Construction of Gender”,  describes the creation and existence of gender while explaining what it means to and for society. Gender is something that dictates almost every aspect of human existence. Lorber says, “The pervasiveness of gender as a way of structuring social life demands that gender statuses be clearly differentiated” - whether it is acknowledged by many or not, individuals’ experiences vary depending on their gender (58). While explaining the impact gender can have, Lorber examined the infamous world of gender roles and their varying levels of intensity. Because gender is such a significant part of culture, it presents itself in almost everything around us. Whether it be in film or music, the usual breadwinner and dominant father and reserved domesticated housewife storyline has been played over-exemplified and became so predictable. It surrounds everything we do. 

However, Hayley Kiyoko’s song, “Girls like Girls”, goes against all of the gender roles because the music video portrays a girl who essentially has fallen in love with what seems to be her female best friend- who just so happens to have a boyfriend. Although you may be thinking, “wow another predictable ‘queer bait’ storyline”, fret not; that is not the case. In this music video, same-sex attraction between both female roles was actually amplified, given more attention, and more normalized than the initial heterosexual relationship. The hetero-relationship was diminished or mocked because the male character was portrayed as a fool, and as a result the girlfriend mocked or embarrassed him and ended up breaking up. (example below)

Kiyoko switched around roles and produced a more homosexually accepting platform for mainstream music because she isn’t coy about sexuality. She isn’t flirting with implications in lyrics or subtle hints or anything (no queer-baiting). Her music videos are obviously about same-sex desires, and she doesn’t shy away from it at all. And yes it’s becoming more accepting in society and in media, but there’s still this air of “we’re not gonna define it. It’s open to interpretation,” especially in mainstream music. There’s not a lot of, just very plain, “this song is gay and that’s that,” there’s always more that meets the eye and Kiyoko is not like that.

Another good song by Kiyoko to analyze is  “Gravel To Tempo”. In this song, Kiyoko sings about feeling inadequate, before defiantly declaring on the chorus, "I'll do this my way, don't matter if I break...I gotta be on my own." She said “I remember so well what it was like to idolize other people and look for validation from them. But then I grew up, and I realized: The only validation I need is from myself." The video is about a girl (Kiyoko) who likes girls and is coming to terms with loving herself regardless of what people have to say. And it’s in a highschool setting which helps normalize queer tendencies to young children everywhere. She is targeting young curious children by showing them that it’s okay if you’re not 100% comfortable with your sexuality, as long as you know it’s normal, or is normalized. Kiyoko said, “My goal is to inspire my fans to find happiness in themselves earlier on, so they don’t have such a tough time growing up. The world is a hard, difficult place right now. But it can feel a little bit easier if you believe in yourself.” 

This is similar to Rich’s piece “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence”, in the sense that Kiyoko wants to help women loving women to accept their homosexuality, and Rich’s piece emphasizes how compulsory heterosexual orientation had been forced onto women and the oppressions women suffer due to social construct. Rich draws attention to the sexual inequity women experienced as they lived subject to men causing them to lose power and identity in society: economically, socially and sexually. This has lead to women not being given a preference for their sexuality but having heterosexuality enforced on them, especially at young ages. Which Kiyoko is trying to normalize. In some societies, it is socially and scientifically believed that a women having sexual and emotional interest in another women is impossible. Thus denying the existence of lesbians and enforcing heterosexuality on women, diminishing sexuality as a preference or implement.

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