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The Stereotype Of The Gay Gang

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Jolene emulates the stereotype that all feminists are man-haters and/or lesbians, but this stereotype becomes problematic when she meets Hodie. Hodie is one of the most successful relationships Jolene has during her entire road trip west, but because she does not feel the urge to identify as a lesbian after having sex with Hodie, she complicates the stereotypes inflicted upon feminists. She attacks second and third wave feminism for its instability in categorizing identity, which innately allows men to reaffirm their power over women. Jolene is relieved that she did not wake up feeling like she needed to submerge herself into the “lesbian gang” (Lopez 251), because categorizing as a particular sex would mean she is also succumbing to a certain role or identity—defying every reason for her travels on the road. Second wave feminism includes those radical feminists who refused to share power with men, and held protests to abolish the notion of power. They were those who “wave DOWN WITH THE PATRIARCHY signs in the air” (Lopez 251) and hold speak outs. Third wave feminists embrace either clichéd or stereotypical notions of femininity, which could include as Jolene points out, “subscrib[ing] to lesbian magazines, wear[ing] flannel shirts,” or “watch[ing] bad lesbian movies to see myself represented” (Lopez 251). She is relieved because she knows what it feels like to submerge herself into a certain role in order to fit into that role, because that is what happens with Bert.
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