It turns out, I just can’t stop thinking about Tila. I know, I know, you’re wishing I had an interesting story to tell about passing the holidays in Consumerville, USA. Oh, you didn’t know that was a place? It is. It’s past the outlet malls in Traffic Jam City and between the towns of Screaming Crazy Lady and Don’t You Give Me The Finger. But I don’t have an interesting story. And no, I can’t imagine why you’d think I had a rough day.
So back to Tila. You all had some great thoughts about gender identity, butches and Tila’s show. Points all around. Every so often another bit pops into my head and I think, “Oh! I need to tell them this!” You see, dear reader, how I think of you even when you aren’t around? Even when you’re in Consumerville and you’ve dropped me off at Screaming Crazy Ladywithout even a fair thee well? Don’t try to convince me that exchange will “just take a sec.” I’m watching you.
The latest popping thought has been about Dani’s butchness (or lack thereof.) I think this was one of the fundamental issues for me (and, I’m sad to say, yet another expose of my butch bigotry.) All season, it appeared that she wandered around Tila’s place appearing to have, at some point in her life, decided that skirts, make-up and other femme accouterments weren’t something in which she was interested. She didn’t tell me that, of course, I just saw it. Right? Just like you saw me buying that Hannah Montana CD in Don’t You Give Me The Finger. “Hadn’t I bought enough already?” you wondered out-loud to the people in line with you. I was standing right there. I heard you!
In the final episodes, Dani is suddenly, noticeably, wearing eye make-up. Probably other make-up too. I don’t begrudge her the right to get her femme on, at least, I don’t think I do, but I did feel that she had compromised her entire identity to please someone else. Who? The Producers? Tila? You? Sure, it’s possible that sometimes she just wears make-up. But since she hadn’t previously on the show, it seemed contrived and I immediately doubted her character, her butchness and, frankly, her suitability for little Tila. (Get into the turn lane. No. There! There! Oh for pete’s sake, we’re going to have to get on the Wait In Fifteen More Lines freeway again.)
Ryan noted that Dani didn’t seem all that butch, but that she and Tila clearly weren’t connecting as well and Tila and the man were. I wonder, could the lack of connection have been the mink black eyeliner? Or the longer, stronger lashes? Did the Herbal Essences make Tila think she was incompetent? Could Tila smell a sell-out coming? Was she as put off as I was at the inconsistency of character? Don’t scowl at me.
Once again, I’ve dragged you into the abyss of Tila. I’ll leave you with this. Tila picked a man, leading many people to conclude that she was more straight than bisexual. Had Tila picked Dani, I doubt people would have said she was more lesbian than bisexual. I believe we still can’t accept equal shares in men and women. If you’re female and say you’re bisexual, I think you’re more likely to be accused of having been straight all along if you ever choose a man. If you’re male and say you’re bisexual, don’t most folks assume you’re gay? Is it possible we just think men are the superior choice?
Okay, you can exit ahead at Peace and Quiet Lane. But if you go back to Consumerville to buy more stocking stuffers, you are going to have to bribe me with a multi shot coffee beverage. Seriously.
Points for getting to the end.
Posted in observations, other folks, queerlife
