Reclaiming Intimacy: Black Women, Visibility, And The Cultural Weight Of Scissoring In Modern Media

In the evolving landscape of sexual representation, the image of Black women engaging in scissoring—a lesbian sexual act often sensationalized in mainstream media—has become a contested symbol. No longer relegated to the margins or exploited for male voyeurism, this act is being reclaimed by Black queer artists, filmmakers, and activists as an assertion of agency, intimacy, and autonomy. The shift is not merely about sexuality but about visibility: who gets to define Black female desire, and on what terms? As society grapples with intersectional representation, the portrayal of Black lesbians in intimate moments has become a cultural flashpoint, reflecting broader tensions around race, gender, and power.

Recent works by directors like Tourmaline and Dee Rees have brought nuanced narratives of Black queer love to the forefront, challenging the fetishization that has historically surrounded such imagery. In films like Pariah (2011) and Saint Frances (2019), intimacy between Black women is portrayed with emotional depth, resisting the male gaze that has long dominated queer female representation in pornography and pop culture. This reclamation stands in stark contrast to earlier depictions—such as those in exploitative adult films or reality TV tropes—where scissoring was reduced to a performative spectacle. Today, Black queer creators are asserting control over their narratives, transforming what was once objectified into a form of resistance and self-definition.

The cultural weight of these representations extends beyond film. In music, artists like Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko—though not Black, Kiyoko’s multiracial identity intersects with broader queer visibility—have contributed to normalizing same-sex intimacy among women of color. Monáe’s Dirty Computer (2018) explicitly celebrated Black queer love, featuring scenes of scissoring not as titillation but as emotional culmination. These portrayals challenge the historical erasure of Black lesbian identities in both mainstream and LGBTQ+ spaces, where whiteness has often dominated narratives of queer liberation.

The societal impact is tangible. Young Black queer women today have access to images and stories that affirm their existence, a radical departure from previous generations. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have become archives of authentic intimacy, where Black queer couples share moments of affection without apology. This visibility fosters a sense of belonging and counters the damaging stereotypes that have long plagued Black women—hypersexualization on one end, asexual invisibility on the other.

Yet challenges remain. Mainstream media still often reduces queer intimacy to spectacle, and Black lesbians continue to face disproportionate rates of violence and marginalization. The act of scissoring, when divorced from context, risks being co-opted once again. But the growing body of work by Black queer creators suggests a shift: not just in how sex is depicted, but in who controls the narrative. As society moves toward more inclusive storytelling, the image of Black women in intimate embrace becomes not just a sexual act, but a political statement—one of presence, power, and unapologetic love.