Let’s face it: we live in a heteronormative society.
What is this strange word you ask? It is simply the assumption that young boys will grow up and marry girls, and that young girls will grow up and marry boys. The most basic example of this is embedded in the fact that us homosexual women must “come out” to friends and family, proclaiming that we are not in fact attracted to men exclusively, as was assumed of us growing up.
Luckily, these norms are slowly changing, but living life on a university campus as homosexual women still remains a challenge:
1. You have to “come out of the closet” all over again
You’ve explained to your parents, aunts, cousins and high school friends that you are attracted to women. Arriving at university, though, you’ll once again be assumed as a straight female by all of your girl and guy friends, and, as a result, will have to politely tell those guy friends that they are not welcome in your love life no matter how hard they try!
2. Finding a Date
All of your friends are going out with guys every weekend, while you sit at home contemplating which women in your lecture you might have a chance with.
3. Making a Move is Taken as a Nice Gesture
You’re in the Timmies line up and offer to buy the girl in front of you a coffee. She smiles, says thank you, and you never hear from her again.
4. They Think You’re Just Friends
Finally, you have gotten up the courage to ask the cute blonde in your tutorial out to the movies! Sadly though, when the movie is over, she tells you that she can’t believe she’s found a friend who likes horror films too… Clearly she didn’t catch your drift.
5. When She Has to Be Just a Friend
Walking hand in hand in public with another girl can be nerve-wracking! Sometimes it just ends up being easier to let everyone think that she’s your friend.