Butch is a term that has different definitions, and can mean something different from individual to individual.[1] Most describe "butch" as an individual who presents with masculinity, prefers masculine signals, personal appearance and styles. However, for many, it goes beyond gender expression, and is a complex and empowering identity.[2]
While "butch" is most commonly used among sapphic women, it's also used by non-binary and genderqueer individuals. There is also a history of gay men using the term to describe masculinity in their community.[1] Some view butch as not only an alternative way of masculinity, but as a way of subverting and embracing the existence of being between and beyond man or woman.[3]
Some butches may be transmasculine, in terms of gender identity and medical transitioning. In the work Stone Butch Blues, the fictionalized version of author Leslie Feinberg, Jess Goldberg, starts taking testosterone, but not because she feels like a man, "I don't feel like a man trapped in a woman's body. I just feel trapped." While the character goes off the hormone, she still views her top surgery as a gift to herself.[4] Feinberg's book is considered an essential text in queer history, many butch individuals finding themselves through the story zie wrote. Some butch individuals don't use she/her pronouns, or describe themselves as women.[3]
Etymology
The exact etymology of butch is unknown, however there are many theories. One proposes that the term came from the male nickname, Butch.[5] Others believe it to be an abbreviation of "butcher," which was American slang for a "tough kid" in the early 20th century.[3]
History
The term has a complex history. The exact origins of the term is still unknown, but it is believed to have emerged among working-class lesbian bar culture.[1]
Flags & Symbols
A butch flag was created by Tumblr user butchspace.[6] The red represents passion and sexuality, inspired by the red in Gilbert Baker's gay pride flag. The red-orange represents courage in one's non-conformity. The light orange represents joy. The white represents renewal and the beginning of a new existence in discovering one's identity. The beige represents kindness and chivalry. The orange represents warmth. The brown represents history.[7]
An older butch lesbian flag was designed by a deactivated user going by dorian-rutherford. It was uploaded onto the DeviantArt account Pride-Flags on August 25, 2016.[8][9] The creator never confirmed the meaning behind the colors.[9]
An all-inclusive butch lesbian flag was designed by X user Sol Diaz on August 14, 2021, specifically the individual Crow. The dark blue represents masculinity, history and stone butches. The purple-blue represents bending gender roles, non-conformity, dykes and trans butches. The light blue represents butch boys, butch mascs, lesboys and transmasc individuals. The white represents community and hope. The light orange represents soft butches, butch women and butch fems. Orange represents warmth and positive/healthy masculinity. Red represents strength, love and perseverance.[10]
The Black Butch Community flag was created by Tumblr user The Gender Thieves sometime before April 11, 2022. It includes bulldyke and stud labels. The colors are inspired by the dyke flag and the butch flags by butchspace and dorian-rutherford. Black represents black history and black sapphic history. The magenta-purple represents lesbian and sapphic history, love of women and non-men, and sapphic power. The dark purple represents inclusivity of all sapphics, including trans, non-binary, m-spec, a-spec and other sapphics. The light orange represents being butch, non-conforming, as well as solidarity and unity. The bull with the labrys axe symbol represents strength, rebellion and liberation.[11]
The butch symbol was designed by a group of non-binary individuals from Brazil and uploaded onto DeviantArt by user Cari-Rez-Lobo.[12]
Another butch symbol was designed by The Gender Thieves on the same day they designed their flag. The symbol, however, is not black-exclusive.[11]
Subterms
| Label | Flag | Description | Coiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Butch | A butch individual who is masculine, but not as masculine as the average butch. | Unknown | |
| Stone Butch |  [13]
|
A butch individual who does not let their partner touch them sexually. | wuvsbian[13] |
| Stud |  [14]
|
A term for masculine women or woman-aligned individuals that is typically exclusive to the black community. | Unknown |
Related Terms
| Label | Relationship | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bear | Counterpart | A term typically used by queer men who subvert and embrace masculinity. |
| Feminine | Opposite | A term for an individual who has a more feminine gender expression. |
| Femme | Counterpart | A term typically used by queer women who subvert and embrace femininity. |
| Masculine | Similar | A term for an individual who has a more masculine gender expression. |
| Tomboy | Similar | A term for a woman or woman-aligned individual who presents in a more masculine manner. |
Alternative Flags
-
![Simplified butch flag (Sol Diaz)[15]](//static.wikitide.net/lgbtqidentitywiki/thumb/5/50/Butch_4.png/120px-Butch_4.png)
Simplified butch flag (Sol Diaz)[15]
![Simplified butch flag (Sol Diaz)[15]](/wiki/File:Butch_4.png)
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 them. “The REAL Meaning of the Word “Butch.”” Them., 21 Aug. 2018, www.them.us/story/inqueery-butch.
- ↑ “It’s #ButchAppreciationDay, and This Is What Butch Means to Me.” Stonewall, name, 18 Aug. 2020, www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/it%E2%80%99s-butchappreciationday-and-what-butch-means-me.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Manders, Kerry. “The Butches and Studs Who’ve Defied the Male Gaze and Redefined Culture.” The New York Times, 13 Apr. 2020, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/13/t-magazine/butch-stud-lesbian.html.
- ↑ Schrader, Eliza Kostelanetz. “Embracing Butch.” Guernica, 5 May 2021, www.guernicamag.com/embracing-butch/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2024.
- ↑ Merriam-Webster. “Definition of BUTCH.” Www.merriam-Webster.com, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butch.
- ↑ butchspace. “A New Butch Flag.” Butch Positivity, butchspace.tumblr.com/post/162316889795/a-new-butch-flag. Accessed 2 Feb. 2024.
- ↑ ---. “Based off of @Princechaotic’s Suggestions and My...” Butch Positivity, butchspace.tumblr.com/post/162452543535/based-off-of-princechaotics-suggestions-and-my. Accessed 2 Feb. 2024.
- ↑ Pride-Flags. “Butch Lesbian by Pride-Flags on DeviantArt.” Www.deviantart.com, 25 Aug. 2016, www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Butch-Lesbian-630382202. Accessed 2 Feb. 2024.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Univerity of Northern Colorado. “Pride Flags.” The Gender & Sexuality Resource Center, www.unco.edu/gender-sexuality-resource-center/resources/pride-flags.aspx.
- ↑ Sol Diaz. “I Am Once Again Here with a Pride Flag Design.” X, 14 Aug. 2021, twitter.com/sol_v_diaz/status/1426603604807491587.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Gender Thieves. “Black Butch Community Flag.” Tumblr, 25 Apr. 2022, thegenderthieves.tumblr.com/post/682521424201744384/blackbutch.
- ↑ Cari-Rez-Lobo. “Gender Symbols by Cari-Rez-Lobo on DeviantArt.” Www.deviantart.com, 3 Oct. 2014, www.deviantart.com/cari-rez-lobo/art/Gender-Symbols-486052086. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 wuvsbian. “Tumblr.” Www.tumblr.com, 6 June 2021, www.tumblr.com/wuvsbian/175056397657/stone-femme-stone-butch-lesbian-flags. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.
- ↑ “Pin on My Saves.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/pin/591097519860159780/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.
- ↑ Sol Diaz. “I Am Once Again Here with a Pride Flag Design.” X, 14 Aug. 2021, twitter.com/sol_v_diaz/status/1426603604807491587.