Were there lesbians in the USSR and Ancient Rus”? The history of same-sex relationships between girls
Were there lesbians in the USSR and Ancient Rus”? The history of same-sex relationships between girls
Same-sex relationships were, are and will remain rare. When a girl loves a girl and a man loves another man, this is a deviation from social principles. The desire for same-sex sexual relationships has been recorded in almost every document since 600 AD. and until our time.
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The most popular phenomenon in ancient times was male homosexuality, because women did not have enough rights and opportunities for such behavior. However, there were lesbians in Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, and even Russia.
According to existing statistics, 3% of all women and 4% of men have homosexual preferences. Modern psychiatrists name many possible reasons for this phenomenon. These are endocrine pathology, brain damage, childhood trauma and upbringing, genetically determined nature and other options. Nobody knows exactly what it is. Many theories have been constructed, some of which completely contradict each other.
Origins of homosexuality
This concept applies to both women and men. It caused a lot of controversy among many generations of scientists studying same-sex relationships.
There is a theory that homosexual relationships between women and men are associated with numerous orgies. It was assumed that constant sexual contact with people of the same sex could lead to mental deviations from the norm, thereby allowing people to experience feelings for people of the same sex.
These assumptions were refuted by facts from life. For example, lesbians can create families, live together and even adopt children. Such cases are not uncommon among same-sex couples and occur among both men and women. Many same-sex marriages are not very different from heterosexual partnerships, and the partners did not have many sexual partners before marriage. This only refutes the above theory.
In 1971, a frightening study was published. One in seven homosexuals in Germany had more than 600 sexual partners per year. No such significant results were observed among women. This is explained by the lack of public interest in female homosexuality, with researchers almost exclusively focusing on men. However, one-seventh of respondents represents only 14%. This figure is too small to conclude that frequent partner changes are the primary cause of homosexuality.
Lesbians of Ancient Rus”
Only a few written documents confirming female homosexuality have survived to this day. A reference to it is contained in a surviving 12th-century treatise. There, the phrase “when a girl rises to the level of a woman, she will have a family.” The phrase “the girl will have a family” was the focus. At that time.
According to historians who have studied Russian intimate culture, homosexual sexual practices were not so severely punished. Compared to sex with men, sex between women was considered simple masturbation. For this pleasure, women were rewarded not only with regular masturbation but also with a 40-day fast.
Scientific research on homosexuality only appeared in the 19th century. According to the findings, lesbian relationships developed primarily in brothels. Moreover, these intimate relationships involved not only the women who worked there but also outside clients. Brothels always offered a wide range of services, including same-sex relationships. This was the easiest way to find a partner and avoid judgment from others.
An interesting fact is that prostitutes were required to undergo a medical examination to receive a certificate. Thanks to a note from one expert, researchers of the time are convinced that same-sex relationships existed in Russia at that time.
In the 20th century, references to lesbianism were already found in literary works. For example, a work called “Thirty-Three Freaks” tells the story of a woman leaving her wedding with her mistress. The book did not achieve international fame and did not resolve the issue. The themes the writer depicted weren”t hackneyed; on the contrary, it was a breakthrough in the literary world. The publication was “rewarded” by the censors with a warning about the presence of pornographic elements.
Another manifestation of homosexual attraction among women was the famous poetess Marina Tsvetaeva. She openly declared her bisexual orientation and love for women and wrote heartbreaking poems based on difficult breakups and love tragedies.
Lesbians in the USSR
As they say, there was no sex at all in the Soviet Union. But jokes aside, homosexuality towards women on the part of women has always existed! Soviet laws and requirements had no power over her. At this time, the first books with more or less scientific overtones, dedicated to female homosexual relationships, appeared. They classified them into types and tried to explain their behavior, appearance and habits.
Read also: Guys and girls for one-time meetings, how to find a partner and not regret it?
Over the past century and a half, humanity has made many amazing discoveries, but the question of the relationship between a man and a woman has led us a little further.
In addition, they decided to deal with the problem of homosexuality. In 1928, they tried to treat the “disease” surgically — implanting part of an animal”s ovary under the right breast to change sexual orientation. The operation was successful, but the “patient” was not cured.
At that time, lesbian relationships could lead to placement in a psychiatric ward with a presumptive diagnosis of personality disorder. They were hospitalized for up to three months.
A common method of concealing homosexuality among wealthy secular society was fictitious marriages, which, so to speak, diverted public attention. Despite the dissatisfaction of the authorities and their desire to “cure” the disease, the creative community turned a blind eye to such antics.
Lesbians in the modern world
Homosexuality in the modern sense of the word is standard: girls love girls, and men love men. Such love can be called “pathological.” Researchers note that at some point in their lives, most people think about homosexual relationships, and sociological studies show that every second girl would like to try an intimate relationship with another girl “out of interest.” However, the bravest or most drunk people decide on these units.
Viewing relationships from the perspective of psychological rather than physical needs, love is an emotional attachment to a person, dependence on them, and their presence in your life. This is the most natural and correct state of mind, but love is not limited to people of the opposite sex. The main problem faced by non-traditional lovers is the condemnation of society, especially friends and parents. It is difficult to explain the reasons for your choice to others.
How to react to same-sex relationships?
In most cases, homosexual relationships are not publicized, but when they do occur, it is best not to dispense advice left and right. This topic is especially difficult for parents because it is difficult to accept the choice of a child you have spent so long and painstakingly raising. Society is rife with ardent opponents of homosexual relationships, so it is difficult for those who have chosen this path to achieve understanding.
Is science everything? Why are scientists arrested? Who is rewriting history? Who is no longer allowed to lecture?
- Everyone has the right to decide what to do. Whether it”s your child or a friend, put yourself in their shoes and feel the pressure of this society. Consider what led them to act this way and why. Perhaps the problem lies not in the environment, but in a genetic predisposition.
- There”s no need to react harshly to express your point of view. Often, people simply want to convey information rather than listen to someone else”s position and accusations. Children eventually grow up, and parents can”t influence their choices. Therefore, it”s crucial not to lose the thread of a warm relationship over such a situation. If it”s a close friend, the friendship may gradually become useless after such a harsh reaction.
- From your perspective, if someone close to you makes a mistake, if they”ve joined the “wrong” crowd, or gotten involved with the wrong person, it makes sense to start the conversation from the heart. Avoid accusations or moralizing; they don”t contribute to a positive continuation of the conversation. I recommend accepting their position and trying to listen to the reasons for these changes.
- No matter the consequences, this person has only changed one aspect of their life. This is his personal law. It doesn”t change any of his other qualities. It”s worth accepting this as a given or acquired trait.
As a rule, it”s true that heterosexual people are difficult to communicate with, but it”s better to prepare for this outcome in advance.
Legalization of same-sex relationships
Despite the fact that the Russian population views same-sex love critically, other countries are actively legalizing same-sex marriage and same-sex relationships. According to 2017 data, homosexual relations are legal in 124 countries worldwide.
An interesting fact is that 122 of these countries are UN members, the other two being Taiwan and Kosovo. Currently, there is not a single country in Europe where consensual homosexual relations are illegal.
In other countries, the picture is different: sexual relations between people of the same sex are punishable. 73 are UN members. And only 45 punish same-sex relations between women. This once again demonstrates the unequal treatment of homosexuals and men compared to lesbians.
As in other areas of life, there are ardent opponents of the legalization of same-sex relations. Such people are called “homophobes.” There are also supporters of this type of self-expression. Homophobia is a manifestation of a unique position related to the boundaries between male and female life roles. The model of relationships established by society cannot be violated or altered. Statistics show that fewer and fewer countries are decriminalizing homosexuality, indicating a global shift in society.
Same-sex relationships, above all, contradict patriarchal and religious traditions. For example, homosexuality is unacceptable and strictly prohibited in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. A rethinking of religious practices has contributed to the gradual acceptance of homosexuality in modern times.
This process has been so long-standing that to understand it, it”s enough to recall the previous section of this article about the existence of homosexual relationships since ancient times. Lesbians and gays emerged long ago and have become an integral and important part of world culture. Therefore, if love is born between a woman or a man, then so is she. This means that they represent only 3-4% of the population who have chosen the difficult path of homosexual relationships.
LGBT — what is it?
Therefore, there have been proposals to create a term that would combine gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people into one category. There was a proposal to call this phenomenon the “third gender,” but this did not happen, and the term did not take root. Today, LGBT has several feminist connotations thanks to the letter “L” in the first position of the acronym.
Interestingly, the letter in the abbreviation is not assigned to a specific position. That is, a feminist will say LGBT, and a gay person will simply say GLBT. In addition, not everyone knows about this term, guided by the opinion that transgender people are globally different from lesbians and gays.
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