Alison Bechdel- A Dyke to Watch Out For
Pennsylvania native, Alison Bechdel, is certainly a dyke to watch out for. From living a childhood in the closet ( as you can read about in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic) to becoming an important figure within the LGBT community, Bechdel has contributed time and time again to the feminist movement.
The incredibly talented cartoonist and graphic memoirist came into the light of activism in perhaps a more subtle manner than many. Bechdel's comic, Dykes to Watch Out For, ran from 1983 through 2008 and was one of the first representations of lesbians in popular culture.
Many of the themes found in Bechdel's comic strips involved current political and cultural issues occurring at the time the strip was published. To have representation of the LGBT community in what is now considered to be a cult classic comic strip, is tremendous in terms of advancement for gender rights. Bechdel was able to touch on important social issues while simultaneously displaying to her readers that members of the LGBT community experience the same life challenges as heterosexual people.
Works Cited
Bechdel, Alison. “Ordinary People .” Dykes to Watch Out For , 2006, dykestowatchoutfor.com/moving-right-along.
Bechdel, Alison. “Pride and Prejudice.” Dykes to Watch Out For , 2007, dykestowatchoutfor.com/dtwof-archive-episode-11.
Salahub, Jill. “Women's History Month: Alison Bechdel.” Colorado State University English, 2017, english.colostate.edu/news/womens-history-month-alison-bechdel/.
Image(s):
https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/alison-bechdel?family=editorial&mediatype=photography&page=4&phrase=alison%20bechdel&sort=mostpopular
The incredibly talented cartoonist and graphic memoirist came into the light of activism in perhaps a more subtle manner than many. Bechdel's comic, Dykes to Watch Out For, ran from 1983 through 2008 and was one of the first representations of lesbians in popular culture.
Many of the themes found in Bechdel's comic strips involved current political and cultural issues occurring at the time the strip was published. To have representation of the LGBT community in what is now considered to be a cult classic comic strip, is tremendous in terms of advancement for gender rights. Bechdel was able to touch on important social issues while simultaneously displaying to her readers that members of the LGBT community experience the same life challenges as heterosexual people.
Works Cited
Bechdel, Alison. “Ordinary People .” Dykes to Watch Out For , 2006, dykestowatchoutfor.com/moving-right-along.
Bechdel, Alison. “Pride and Prejudice.” Dykes to Watch Out For , 2007, dykestowatchoutfor.com/dtwof-archive-episode-11.
Salahub, Jill. “Women's History Month: Alison Bechdel.” Colorado State University English, 2017, english.colostate.edu/news/womens-history-month-alison-bechdel/.
Image(s):
https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/alison-bechdel?family=editorial&mediatype=photography&page=4&phrase=alison%20bechdel&sort=mostpopular
Alison Bechdel was revolutionary, and contributed a great deal for the fight of marriage equality. she brought light to what conservative Americans weren't aware of when it comes to the LGBTQ community.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of her before, but she sounds awesome. She was bold to make such a controversial comic during the years that she did, which is incredible. The name is unique and definitely gets people's attention!
ReplyDeleteAlison Bechdel sounds great! Comics usually don't have many LGBTQ themes in them even now so for her to put them in the 80's is super ahead of its time. I'm glad the LGBTQ community has so many great people like her to advance equality to all.
ReplyDelete