"Tea Marvelli" from Skins

Skins is, from what I've heard, a very popular show in the U.K. Critics claim that the U.S. version is not as good, but it is the only version I have seen so I'm going to talk about it anyway. Tea is a lesbian and proud of it. She is a high school student (about 15 years old) and she has come out to her close friends. Her big, Italian family, however, does not know about her sexual preference. To keep them satisfied, she goes on dates with the sons of her father's friends or clients. She openly talks about her sexuality with her friends and kisses and holds hands with whomever her current fling may be. One night, however, she made a horrible mistake. Her dad had arranged a blind date between Tea and his friend's son. Tea was surprised to find out that her date was actually Tony, one of her really good friends from school. Later on in the night, they get high and start kissing. Tea stops herself because not only is she attracted to women, but her friend is Tony's girlfriend. After some provocative dancing, they quickly have sex. Tea laughs after they have sex and she claims that it was "horrible" and she didn't understand why straight girls like it. Although Tea made a mistake and she didn't enjoy sex with Tony at all, they later have sex again while on a camping trip for school. Tony's girlfriend finds out and breaks up with Tony. His girlfriend also stops speaking to Tea.

In the beginning of the season, Tea is very confident and sure of who she is. I like that the writers of Skins, at first, were showing a strong lesbian who is only attracted to girls and let's everyone know it (except her religious family). My opinion of her changed, however, after she had sex with Tony (twice). I think that one of the most common stereotypes of lesbians is that they will still have sex with guys. Men usually don't care if a woman is interested in other women because they automatically think, "threesome". At first, Tea seemed to prove the stereotype wrong by only being attracted to women. She reverted back to the stereotypical lesbian who will sleep with any gender.

I think that the character, Tea, shows the wrong message to gay women because they might think that it's normal for lesbians to have sex with men. I don't think that lesbians should feel pressured into having sex with men because they won't be attracted to them in the least. Gay women should realize that they deserve more than to be a straight man's sexual fantasy. They are real people with real relationships. I think that having sex with emotion, or at least sexual attraction, is pointless. If a lesbian sleeps with a man she will be using her body for all the wrong reasons.