Butch is most often a term used to describe a lesbian who exhibits a masculine identity.[1][2] It is sometimes also used by masculine gay men, bisexuals, and transgender individuals.[3]
Since the early inception of lesbian culture, "butch" has always been present as a way for lesbians to circumvent traditional genders of women in society and distinguish their masculine attributes and characteristics from feminine women.[a]
The 1940s saw the rise of visible butch culture and butch lesbians who dressed in more masculine attire and acted in a more butch manner. This usually limited them to a few jobs, such as factory work and cab driving, that had no dress codes for women.[6] During the 1950s with the anti-gay politics of the McCarthy era, there was an increase in violent attacks on gay and bisexual women, while at the same time the increasingly strong and defiant bar culture became more willing to respond with force. Although femmes also fought back, it became primarily the role of butches to defend against attacks and hold the bars as gay women's space.[7] The prevailing butch image was severe but gentle, it became increasingly tough and aggressive as violent confrontation became a fact of life.[8]
^According to Heidi M. Levitt and Sara K. Bridges: "The terms femme and butch began infiltrating bisexual communities, and women began writing about their experiences as bisexual femmes...Although essayists have begun to explore this identity, very little empirical research has been conducted looking at the expression and experience of gender expression and gender identity within bisexual women."[4] According to some academic studies about the butch/femme subculture, "Femmes were sometimes bisexual."[5]
References[]
^Bergman, S. Bear (2006). Butch is a noun. San Francisco: Suspect Thoughts Press. ISBN978-0-9771582-5-6.
^Smith, Christine A.; Konik, Julie A.; Tuve, Melanie V. (2011). "In Search of Looks, Status, or Something Else? Partner Preferences Among Butch and Femme Lesbians and Heterosexual Men and Women". Sex Roles. 64 (9–10): 658–668. doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9861-8. ISSN0360-0025. S2CID144447493.[permanent dead link]
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