Dawn's Sexuality

N

Nikita

Potential
Joined
Nov 7, 2010
Messages
252
I think that Seeing Red was an interesting episode on many reasons but watching it during the Scifi Marathon just made me think about another thing I never had before. Dawn's reaction to Tara and Willow makes me think...We never really see her crushing for a guy apart from that vampire in early season 6 and RJ in Season 7, though that was a love spell, and her reaction to Tara and Willow's kissing:

*Tara and Willow kiss.*
Tara: Okay, okay. We'll stop.
Dawn: You better not. *laughs*
Click to expand...

I don't know, it just seems like she's thinking about it. I'm thinking maybe she's somewhat bisexual. I thought this would be an interesting topic to discuss. There are many things through out this episode and others that sort of point towards Dawn's bisexuality.
 
Hm. Yet another thing I've never given boy thought before. I merely thought about that comment as Dawn showing her happiness over Tara and Willow finding their way again.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
Akitta21
Akitta21
[No message]
Dawn was always happy when good things happened. She loved that Willow and Tara were back together because they had become her surrogate parents for a time.
 
I don't think it has nothing to do with her sexuality, she was just excited they got back together.

On the other hand, when she said she wants to be like Tara and Willow, Joyce telling her to go to her room always make me laugh 🙂
 
I've never really thought about her sexuality that way before. I'm pretty sure, like the others said, that she was just excited about Tara and Willow getting back together. We've only really seen her get interested in guys, I've never seen her get all lovey-dovey over a girl. I see where you're coming from, I just think you probably got the wrong end of the stick.
 
I just wanted to spark some conversation, it seemed like a good enough idea and maybe some people did see the same thing as me. We'll see 😀
 
I don't think that Dawn's happiness at Willow and Tara being back together had anything to do with her sexuality or who she ever did or didn't have a crush on, and precisely when she had it, as much as she was just happy that they were back together. Willow and Tara were mostly like two rather indulgent aunts to her, and she obviously felt that they belonged together rather than apart.

Besides which, Tara probably helped her with the housework.
 
Also in season 8 her sexuality becomes more clear.

Like others said, I think Dawn was just happy that Willow and Tara were back togheter.
 
N
Nikita
I like to believe that Season 8 doesn't exist :P
In this situation, I think Dawn was definately just happy that her "parents" had gotten back together, just like most people would. But it is an interesting idea that she could be bi. I mean, there is no situations that would rule out the idea, and she is obviosly completely comfortable with Tara and Willow being gay. I guess we'd just have to see.
 
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Joan the Vampire Slayer
I love your banner!
She also had a crush on the guy in The Body, and Xander and Spike. And now she's dating Xander. And in season 8, she said Willow was like a mother to her. Since I think she's felt that way since early season 6, I doubt it was curiousity she felt in Seeing red.

But who knows.
 
H
HalloweenRain
Yeah I think everyone forgets Spike, and Xander...although the Xandman was her FIRST crush.
I don't think that comment in Seeing Red is supposed to reference her sexuality, but I would love for Dawn to be bisexual or something similar. I don't see why not, and a bisexual/pansexual/queer Dawn would be awesome! Plus, it'd be cool to finally have an out bi/queer character that isn't, like, a "deviant" vampire.
 
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Well, Willow's gay and she's not a deviant character.
I think Dawn's reaction was simply excitemnt that she could not contain. She loved Willow and Tara, who were both like sisters to her and an extension of her family. Of course she'd want them back together.

As for her sexuality, I've never thought about it, but I think Dawn's pretty straight. Look at her crushing on both Spike and Xander at a very young age.
 
Joan the Vampire Slayer agrees: Well, Willow's gay and she's not a deviant character.
Click to expand...

I meant as in not straight and not 100 percent gay. Willow and Tara self-identify as lesbians. Other than W & T, there are no out representations of sexualities that don't fit between rigid lines of gay and straight, besides the vampires, whose establishment as bisexual can be read as a little problematic when they're virtually the ONLY representation of fluid/non-normative sexuality. Andrew might be bi or queer, but his sexuality is often played for laughs and even today we have yet to see him with an actual love interest. Xander too, but again, it's mostly hinted at and there's nothing in the text that says definitively that Xander is attracted to people other than women, it's still all in innuendos and jokes, if that. But that's just my reading of it.
 
I don't think Dawn was ever represented as being lesbian or bi, although it's definitely possible she might have been interested in experimenting. She did make a lot of comments about Willow and Tara being together, so I always thought she might have gave being with a woman some thought.
Personally, I think Dawn was probably so open minded that she wouldn't label herself. She seemed very comfortable with sexuality and never batted an eye at Willow/Tara or Willow/Kennedy, but since she did show interest in men I would say she's omnisexual.
 
I don't see that comment as implying anything about Dawn's sexuality- she was shown to be very upset when Willow and Tara split up, they've become like aunts, or even parents to her. When she's with Tara, she drops several (unsubtle) hints about how well Willow's been doing, hoping they'll get back together. Her being thrilled about them being back together seems the most likely conclusion, IMO.

As far as Dawn's sexuality goes, I think its proved that she likes men- whether she is attracted to women, too, is neither confirmed or denied on the show, so its entirely possible. I don't see her not being fazed by Willow's lesbianism as any reflection on her own sexuality, though. There are plenty of straight people who aren't shocked/horrified/amazed/whatever by lesbian and gay couples, after all- besides, Dawn's known Willow all through her teenage years, and Tara for a couple- they're her friends, almost family members, she's used to them as a couple, and their sexuality, through some of the formative years of her life. If anything, I would say this would probably mean that if she fell for a woman, she wouldn't hesitate, or think it was a big deal based on their gender, but I don't think her acceptance implies anything about her sexuality. Just my opinion. If Dawn did turn out to be bi, then awesome ^^
 
prophecygrrl said:
I meant as in not straight and not 100 percent gay. Willow and Tara self-identify as lesbians. Other than W & T, there are no out representations of sexualities that don't fit between rigid lines of gay and straight, besides the vampires, whose establishment as bisexual can be read as a little problematic when they're virtually the ONLY representation of fluid/non-normative sexuality. Andrew might be bi or queer, but his sexuality is often played for laughs and even today we have yet to see him with an actual love interest. Xander too, but again, it's mostly hinted at and there's nothing in the text that says definitively that Xander is attracted to people other than women, it's still all in innuendos and jokes, if that. But that's just my reading of it.
Click to expand...

I agree. I think the show could need a bi person. A *real* bi person, not someone who like Buffy, sleeps with someone then says "I'm attractive to you, I think you're cool, but I'm not gay" or like Willow, jump from men to women, without looking back.

Not that what Buffy did with Satsu is wrong, but that just represented bicuriousity. Or someone in denial. I mean, Buffy liked Satsu as a person, liked to have sex with her even, but they couldn't date because Buffy wasn't "gay"? Did that mean Buffy had the "attracted to women"-part down but not the "falling in love"-part? I think she was just afraid to try, or simply didn't like Satsu enough and used the so called none-gayness as a excuse. Not because she wasn't "gay" enough (I hate that Buffy couldn't just have used the word "bi". It's not like she has to swear off men too).

But now I'm a bit off topic.

Point is, even though I today buy that Willow's really gay, no exceptions, ever since she claimed to not like men in Triangle(was that it?) I've wanted her to stand up and say "Okay, screw labels, I was just trying to hard to identify with being a lesbian so hard that I denied wanting men too". I don't know why that is, I mean, she's happy, I should be happy.

But together with the other examples above, I just feel that bisexuality is not taken seriously on the show. And yes, they've done the "so you like women/men? We're fine with that, go have fun"-storyline on the show and in the comics, but I don't know. I want a outright bi character.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom