The term "sapphic", as in The Sapphic Story Critic, is derived from the name "Sappho", who was not only known for being one of the greatest Greek poets alongside Homer but also for being a lesbian (sexuality-wise and geographically speaking, as she was from the island of Lesbos). Among her most iconic poems, which were largely about her love and desire for women, violets and the color purple are recurring symbols that have since been associated with lesbianism and other women-loving-women (wlw) relationships among the queer community (hence the intensely purple theme of this site).

Over time, these symbols were used as a form of resistance among members in the queer community. Women in Western cultures in the 1920's would often gift each other violets to signify their sapphic interests in each other, and the color lavender was often worn as a symbol of resistance and gay/lesbian empowerment during the “Lavender Scare” and “Lavender Menace” movements throughout the 1960's and 70's in the United States.

I adopted these symbols for The Sapphic Story Critic because I’d like to think of this space as a little pocket of resistance too— by celebrating queer joy, we’re challenging mainstream narratives and rejecting the idea that queer identities are only defined by tragedy. 💜

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Last updated: July 17, 2022