Butch and femme (lesbian subculture)

Butch and femme are terms historically used in lesbian subculture to describe individuals who identify as masculine or feminine or exhibit traits, behaviors, or styles typically associated with traditional male or female gender norms. Whereas “butch” denotes a more masculine identity or presentation, the term “femme” is tied to a more feminine identity or presentation. Butch and femme first emerged as a distinct lesbian subculture in the 1940s and remained a significant part of lesbian culture through most of the twentieth century. During this time, the butch-femme concept was predominantly viewed as a means of organizing sexual relationships based on gender and sexual identity. Though the concept persists in the modern lesbian community to some extent, the use of classifications like butch and femme is less common in the twenty-first century mainly because of evolving thought on the role of labels in the LGBTQIA+ community and an increased understanding of the damaging nature of such labels. Some lesbian feminists criticize butch and femme as little more than a replication of heterosexual relations, while others argue that individuals who self-identify as butch or femme defy gender norms and live a life completely unlike that of a heterosexual couple.

Background

Butch-femme culture first began to take hold in the mid-twentieth century. In the 1940s, a growing desire among some lesbians to embrace non-traditional gender presentation led to the emergence of a division within the lesbian community based on identity and class. The class distinction inherent in this division arose because so-called “butch” lesbians who favored eschewing traditional gender presentation in terms of dress and behavior increasingly turned to working-class "queer bars" as safe havens where they could explore their gender identities and presentation preferences. Many middle- and upper-class lesbians, who were more likely to conform to traditional gender presentation norms and identify as “femmes,” tended to avoid these bars out of fear that associating with butches could prove harmful to their more respectable reputations. This allowed butches to dominate these bars for some time. Through the 1960s, individuals who identified as butch and femme were easily identifiable in these establishments, with the former typically wearing clothing traditionally worn by men with short hairstyles and the latter wearing clothing traditionally worn by women with longer hair and makeup.

In the early era of butch-femme culture, clearly identifying and presenting as either butch or femme was strongly the norm. Anyone who deviated from this standard and did not fit neatly into one category or the other was thought to be “confused.” Firm informal rules also applied as to what was considered acceptable in relationships within the butch-femme framework. Specifically, lesbian relationships were expected to be butch/femme. Butch-butch and femme-femme relationships were considered taboo.

Butch-femme culture receded to some degree with the rise of feminism in the 1970s. Many queer feminists regarded butch-femme culture as politically incorrect, an extension of patriarchal standards, and an attempt to replicate heterosexuality. As a result, butch-femme culture fell from favor for a while until butch and femme subsequently resurfaced in the 1980s as sexually empowering terms. Ultimately, however, the changing nature of identity politics in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, which was strongly influenced by 1970s feminism, soon led to another decline in the popularity and prevalence of butch-femme culture. By the 2020s, the terms butch and femme were infrequently used, and the traditional rules that once governed butch-femme relationships became irrelevant. While butch or femme can be used as a derogatory term, some individuals use them as an affirmative identity label.

Overview

As used within lesbian culture, the terms butch and femme can be used to distinguish an individual’s adherence to traditional masculine and feminine gender presentations and behavioral norms. Although these terms are less common in the modern lesbian community than they were in the past, they are still used to some extent. They are also sometimes used by other members of the broader lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community.

Butches typically present as masculine to varying degrees, often wearing short-cropped hairstyles and what is traditionally viewed as men’s clothing. They may also adopt stereotypically masculine behaviors, such as machismo and chivalry. Femmes generally present as traditionally feminine, wearing dresses and skirts, keeping longer hair, and wearing makeup. They also tend to conform to commonly accepted feminine behavioral norms.

There are several subcategories of individuals who identify as butch, including stone butch, stud, and soft butch. While these are slang terms that are uncommonly used in the twenty-first century, they remain historically important. An individual who identifies as a stone butch might be described as the most masculine butch. In addition to their particularly masculine presentation, stone butches are often known for preferring not to be touched by their partners during sexual activity. Rather, they indirectly derive sexual gratification simply from pleasuring their partners. The term was commonly used among working-class lesbians in the 1940s and 1950s and popularized by Leslie Feinberg's book Stone Butch Blues (1993). The terms “stud” or "aggressive" are specifically reserved for Black butch lesbians. Soft butches typically prefer a masculine presentation that embraces a limited degree of femininity. Common subcategories of femmes include high femmes, stems, and tomboy femmes. Sometimes called “lipstick lesbians,” high femmes are particularly feminine in their presentation. A stem is the femme equivalent of a stud. Tomboy femmes are those who prefer gender-fluid clothing and generally do not like wearing makeup but are open to occasionally wearing dresses and other traditionally feminine clothing.

More masculine “butch” lesbians and feminine “femme” lesbians alike face challenges and enjoy certain social benefits based on their distinct presentations and identities in the twenty-first century. So-called butch lesbians typically bear the brunt of homophobia and homophobic violence in the lesbian community. They often have little in the way of cultural privilege and are frequently punished for their obvious gender non-conformity. At the same time, however, they may be less vulnerable to traditional sexism than other women. Conversely, lesbians who present as feminine, or "femme," with traditionally female traits face a unique challenge known as femme invisibility. Because their sexual identity is less overt than their more masculine counterparts, many femme lesbians struggle to be recognized for who they are. They may not be believed when they come out or experience rejection from members of the LGBTQIA+ community, causing them to feel a need to prove their sexual identity because it is not outwardly apparent. They are also more likely to receive unwanted attention from or be sexually harassed by men but less likely to endure homophobia and homophobic violence because they look like gender-conforming females.

Bibliography

Brabaw, Kasandra. “A Brief History of the Word ‘Femme.’” Refinery29, 20 June 2018, www.refinery29.com/en-us/femme-lesbian-lgbtq-history. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

“Butch and Femme.” T-Vox, 2022, t-vox.org/information/definitions/butch-and-femme. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

"Butch, or Masc." It Gets Better, itgetsbetter.org/glossary/butch-or-masc. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

“InQuerry: The REAL Meaning of the Word ‘Butch.’” Them, 21 Aug. 2018, www.them.us/story/inqueery-butch. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

Kaos, Trini. “Lesbian Subcultures: Are You Looking for a Butch or Femme?” Queer Events, 20 Apr. 2020, www.queerevents.ca/queer-culture/posts/lesbian-subcultures. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

Liesch, Syaa. "A Brief History of Butch and Femme: Living Gender outside the Binary." One Woman Project, 23 Apr. 2024, www.onewomanproject.org/lgbtqia/2024/4/23/a-brief-history-of-butch-and-femme-living-gender-outside-the-binary. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

Mahmoud, Jessica. “Femme/Butch Identities.” Queer Voices, queer-voices.com/femmebutch-identities. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

Resnick, Ariane. “What Is Femme Invisibility?” VeryWell Mind, 22 Aug. 2021, www.verywellmind.com/what-is-femme-invisibility-5187233. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

Sotska, Julia. “Butch Lesbian – What Is It? What Does It Mean?” Taimi, 5 Nov. 2024, taimi.com/wiki/butch-lesbian-what-is-it-what-does-it-mean. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.

Urquhart, Evan. “Who Has It Easier, Butch or Femme Lesbians?” Slate, 17 Nov. 2014, slate.com/human-interest/2014/11/lesbians-who-has-it-easier-butches-or-femmes.html. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.