Stemme

A lesbian, who identifies as a Stemme, retains traits from both Femme and Stud/ Butch lesbians. Stemmes are in the center of the lesbian spectrum of classification and identities. Therefore, it is considered natural or common for Stemme lesbians to share the same behaviors as women of two diverse identity groups. Often times, the Stemme identity is viewed as the “transitional” stage of lesbianism, when a lesbian woman goes from being a Femme to a Stud/ Butch, or (on rear occasions) from a Stud/ Butch to a Femme. The way a Femme dresses includes styles from both Femme and Stud/ Butch groups. They may prefer to wear loose jeans and a tight or fitted shirt. These women also transfer in and out of each identity. One way an exchange of identity exists is by wearing boys/ men’s clothing or by wearing girls/ women’s clothing. Another is the attitudes and roles a lesbian plays within a relationship.

A Stemme who is the dominant woman in a relationship or prefers to recognize their masculine identity associates herself more with her Stud/ Butch identity. Although she can also identify as a Femme, she either feels more comfortable as a Stud/ Butch, but still remains feminine. In contrast, a Stemme who is less dominant and inhibits feminine traits and characteristics may choose to identify more towards the Femme side of the identity. Stemme lesbians are not always easy to identify. They are more likely distinguishable when they portray the Stud/ Butch identity. If a Stemme is dressed as a Femme she may resemble a heterosexual woman or another Femme.

Individual identity is subject to change. With experience people grow and sometimes change is required. When lesbians decide to “transition” they change their sub-identity. If a lesbian is a Femme, but no longer wants to identify or prefers to act as the more dominant person in a relationship, it is common for her to become a Stemme before she becomes a Stud/ Butch. Both physically and socially it is easier to become a Stemme when changing identities because a lesbians style, demeanor, and preference have to become assimilated to their new identity. Though this can happen, it is not as common for a Stud/ Butch to transition into a Femme. Evidently the main reason this is true is because Studs/ Butches do not feel comfortable as Femmes. They do not like to limit themselves to women’s clothing and they like to play the more superior and dominant role in a relationship.

*In this blog the characteristic and behavioral difference between a Femme and a Stud is conjoined. The way a Femme or a Stud dresses is not the only way she can be identified. They can also be distinguished by their attitudes, actions and the way they interact with other people. A Stemme is the in-between identity of a Stud and Femme. She is apart of both groups and her identity is subject to change at anytime. A Stemme identity is often referred to as the transitional stage; however, some lesbian women remain a Stemme because they enjoy representing male and female dominance.

Work Cited:

Interview-

Youtube Stemmes, Interviewed by N. Smith, Online Interview, Via Email, November 5, 2009

Stud/ Butch

Stud/ Butch, are two terms that share the same meaning and are used to describe a masculine lesbian. The definition of a Stud is “a human male viewed as very successful with women.” This same concept has become adapted in the lesbian community amongst women who are Studs. Studs/ Butches, are known for “having a way with the ladies,” and being able to “sweet talk,” or “gain” the attention of other lesbians and sometimes of heterosexual women as well. Generally, most women who identify as being a Stud/ Butch lesbian prefer to wear men’s clothing. In contrast to Femmes who can be confused as heterosexual women, Studs/ Butches are easier to identify. Since these women assume the more dominate role in a lesbian relationship, Studs/ Butches, are viewed as the “male” figure and provider for their partner or family. Studs/ Butches are women who are strong, masculine and aggressive. Their affirmed identity challenges social constructs of gender, and the parallels between masculinity and femininity.

The women who identify and relate to either label influence the difference between the terms of Stud/ Butch. Stereotypically, Stud is used to describe a Black, Hispanic, Asian and any other lesbian who is a minority. The term Butch is used to denote white lesbian women or non-minorities. Though the terms make distinct racial reference they both suggest the same meanings, beliefs, actions and roles these women play in lesbianism. Studs/ Butches are women who feel more “comfortable” either dressing like a boy/ man or wearing loose clothing. A number of these women have similar interests as men including: watching sports, hanging with buddies and being a superior performer in the bedroom. These characteristics draw attention to diverse lesbian behavior. However, they do not limit these interests to any other women besides Stud/ Butch lesbians.

Lesbian women who identify as Stud/ Butch, challenge social norms or constructs that implement gender. Society tries to shape the identity of women. Thus, gender predetermines, women’s interests, actions, beliefs, lifestyles, sexual experiences, and appearances. Most Stud/ Butch lesbian women do not meet the social standards that define a woman or a female. Stud/Butch women are lesbians who are attracted to women. They are more masculine, and are mainly dominate and in control of a relationship. Some Stud/ Butch women prefer to watch sports than romantic dramas, or cooking shows. Also, most lesbians who are masculine choose men’s clothing over women’s clothing. Considering these representations, evidently, Stud/ Butch lesbians deconstruct the idea of gender in their own community. Though masculine lesbians avert the idea of gender they still realize they are women. Studs/ Butches do not try and become men; instead they are more connected with masculinity than femininity, even though they possess both traits.

*Stud/ Butch lesbians are defined as masculine women who are sexually attracted to other women. They challenge the cultural definition of femininity and express their own ideas of masculinity. In researching for this blog I noticed that many Studs/ Butches feel completely comfortable in men’s clothing. Many Studs/ Butches try and “act” or “look” hard because they feel as if they have to maintain a dominant and intimidating appeal in order to gain respect and get attention from other lesbians. Also, lesbians who identify as Stud/ Butch create gender roles that are more masculine than feminine.

Work Cited:

Interview-

K. Smith, Interviewed by N. Smith, Tape Recording, Norton MA, November 3, 2009

Internet Source-

Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved, accessed November 3, 2009

www.dictionary.com

Video Clip-

Bedroombullyboi, Sexiest Doms/ Studs/FTM’s

2009, Youtube clip, One True Media, 04min

Image-

Studzlife101, Pookz and DZ

Youtube Images, One True Media

Femme

The term Femme is a word derived from the French word femme, meaning a woman who is a wife. In the lesbian community, the word Femme is an identity, and is also used to describe a woman who maintains the more feminine role in a lesbian relationship. Most women who are Femme are typically unidentifiable, and can be easily mistaken for a heterosexual woman. Since these women prefer to dress in women’s clothing, and “act” according to the constructed image of a female, they are not viewed as being lesbian. Generally, Femme’s feel comfortable in their female bodies and can both perform and behave naturally as feminine women. The term Femme in relation to identity attributes gender, domestic, societal and community roles, which most Femme’s acquire through the identity.

Mostly, women who identify as Femme are more connected and aware of their femininity. In comparison to heterosexual women, Femme women wear women’s clothing and enjoy the extensive labor that goes into the formation and process, of fabricating beauty through internal and external appearance. Women appreciate going to the salon to get their hair styled and their eyebrows waxed. Some women also enjoy getting manicures and pedicures. According to societal ideologies, these processes express the idea of femininity in womanhood and how beauty is obtained. Many women who are Femme’s share these same experiences and the idea of being pampered conforms to what role they play in their relationship as a lesbian.

The Femme identity suggests a number of roles that signify the way lesbian women correspond to their identity. In most lesbian relationships, if a couple desires to get pregnant, the Femme is expected to carry the baby. Since carrying a baby is viewed as the more feminine role because biologically only a woman can carry a baby, the Femme commits to child -bearing. Despite the fact that many lesbian relationships consist of a Femme and Stud/ Butch, some lesbian couples consist of two Studs/Butches, and they may or may not choose to carry or even have a baby. In a lesbian relationship, the natural system of having a baby, which both women can physically experience, is assumed by the Femme role.

*In this blog I worked towards defining the more feminine identity within the lesbian community by writing about the identity of a Femme. For this post I was able to interview a lesbian who identifies as a Femme and also plays this role in her own relationship. Femininity is constructed by the way Femmes dress, act and portray them selves in society. In studying the Femme identity it is important to note that the image of the female body becomes naturalized and expressed in different ways.

Work Cited:

Internet Source-

Diggs Group

Queer United, Electronic Blog Document

http://queersunited.blogspot.com, accessed November 4, 2009

Interview-

Ezeigwe, C, Interview by N. Smith, Recording Interview, Boston, MA, November 3, 2009

Identity

The term identity has multiple meanings and connotations that create various definitions based on the way the term is being used. Identity has shifted from being a form of social construct to self –representation and creation. The way people choose to define them selves, is how they create an identity. A person’s beliefs, values, and interests are essential factors in determining their identity. Since identities are shaped by the interests people have and the way people choose to characterize themselves, a person’s identity is unique. Sexual identity or preference is defined by sexual attraction to a person either of the same or opposite sex. Lesbian identity is based on the preference and attraction of a woman. Therefore, a woman who is either sexually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually attracted or interested in another woman usually identifies as a lesbian.

Lesbian identity is composed of sub-identities. Sub-identities are the underlying forms of classification that make up lesbian identity as a whole. One of the ways lesbians classify themselves is by using labels to define their identity. In particular, the terms Femme, Stemme, and Stud/ Butch, are all titles that are claimed and distributed in the lesbian community. Though each of these labels represents lesbianism, they also create group distinctions according to identification.

The process of establishing which sub-identity a lesbian decides is contingent on several factors. The first has to do with self- representation. Most of the time, the way a lesbian dresses is an indicator of what sub-group she identifies with. Generally, lesbian women who choose to wear men’s clothing are considered Studs/ Butch. This does not mean all women who wear men’s clothing are lesbians. However, if a lesbian identifies as a Stud/ Butch, it is a general “unspoken rule” that she will choose to wear men’s clothing. Primarily, many lesbian Studs/ Butch “feel more comfortable” in men’s clothing than women’s clothing. According to this statement, the way a lesbian dresses is not only indicative of the way she prefers to identify herself; it is also a way that allows her to feel comfortable with her identity.

Another important factor in selecting an identity has to do with sexual preference. Sub- identities in the lesbian community illustrate the ideal form of a relationship. The ideal form of a lesbian relationship refers to the social construction and or belief of what sub-identities belong together. If a lesbian identifies as a Femme, she is automatically seen as a woman who is attracted to only Studs/Butches. However, she can be attracted to another Femme, or even Stemme. Essentially many lesbians classify themselves according to the attraction of identity and who they feel is compatible. It is important to note that although sexual preference plays a huge role in identity, it does not limit or control non-traditional lesbian relationships. Thus, a Stud/ Butch and another Stud/ Butch can be in a relationship even though they presume the same identity.

*From this blog I learned that an individuals identity is defined in so many ways. In the lesbian community identity is very important because it allows lesbian women to express themselves and relate to other lesbians. As a result, self- representation creates a system in which lesbians classify themselves and build intimate relationships with each other including members of the same group or sub-group.

Work Cited:

Observation-

Six Flags New England, “Out at the Park,” Saturday September 19, 2009

Interview-

Female Interview, Interviewed by N. Smith, Phone Interview, September 28, 2009

Internet Document-

Goodloe, Amy

1993,1999 Lesbian Identity and the Politics of Butch-Femme Roles, Internet Document

http://www.lesbian.org/amy/essays/bf-paper.html, accessed September 26, 2009