Gay men and lesbian women were treated and handled in different ways within the Soviet Union. Under communism, lesbianism was considered as a psychological disorder requiring psychiatric treatment and hospitalization. Their male counterparts, if determined to be engaged in muzhelozhstvo were imprisoned for up to five years. This in large part had to do with the role women were seen to play within the context of the larger society. Despite these differences, much emphasis on current gay and lesbian research is to emphasize shared common experiences, in particular those shared experiences of discrimination. Early gay and lesbian activism in Russia was concerned with the fight for the renunciation of Article 121.1 and bringing greater awareness to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. One of the reasons for the fracturing of the earlier movement was its male-centeredness. Gay males and lesbians often have very different experiences. Lesbians often have to encounter hostile attitudes and societal stereotypes not only pertaining to their sexual orientation but also their sex. This paper examines how lesbianism has been defined and perceived in Russia. In addition, this paper examines lesbian identity within Russia separate from their gay male counterparts
