Voices of contemporary lesbian poetry: a reading of Elayne Baeta

Abstract

This paper aims to explore lesbian invisibility in literature, as well as to demonstrate and analyze, in selected works by lesbian authors, contemporary ways of communicating poetically and creating a connection with readers. In today’s society, despite advances, works with narratives about women who love women are still few and far between. Having the courage to name oneself and recount these experiences is to transgress social norms that impose heterosexual relationships as the standard of behavior. That is why such works are vital, as they contribute positively to the process of discovery, self-acceptance, and pride for many women in relation to their own sexuality, while also creating a place of comfort and welcome, where they feel embraced, hopeful, and understood when reading about feelings that even they would not know how to describe. Literature is a tool for social transformation, so it is vital to occupy spaces and create works that address various issues involving this theme. In addition, the research proposes to analyze some poems, on a wide variety of themes, and reinforce the essentiality of aspects that go beyond the text itself, the use of words in a way that breaks traditional structures and brings new meanings to what has been written. In contemporary poetry, each space, dot, and line can modify or complement what is being written with words, bringing even more playful and engaging experiences to these readers. For this study, the concepts postulated by Djamila Ribeiro (2019), Conceição Evaristo (2020), Lúcia Facco (2002) and Luiz Mott (1987) were essential for the construction of the theoretical foundation, in addition to the work Oxe, baby (2021), by Elayne Baeta.