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Letter: Relationship stereotypes hurt lesbians

When people started to talk openly about lesbian couples, they sold the image that this couple was formed by women who lived heterosexual roles. This stereotype determines that in a lesbian couple there “must be” a dominant side and a dominated side. This idea is deeply inculcated and assumed in society.

People assume roles based on participation from each woman in the housework or in interests of each of them regarding hobbies and preferences. For example, my ex-girlfriend’s friends told her that I followed the male role in the relationship for various behaviors I had; while my friends used to tell me that she followed the male role in our relationship for the same reason. The truth is that within our relationship neither of us thought that we followed any role.

For me, the ideal in any type of relationship is in those where there is no kind of ownership or dependence, and that it is understood that they are just two people who love each other, and not two roles to play. The only good alliances are those made by men and women who act and see themselves and others as equal; no more nor less.

Lauren Guerrero Silva, Eagle Mountain

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