Masculine lesbians dated feminine lesbians and passed through society as men, making it easier to avoid the social stigmas that would otherwise prevent them from getting a job. The terms butch and femme were coined during the ‘40s and ‘50s and were originally used as safety measures to deter undercover cops, since openly presenting as a lesbian couple ran the risk of persecution. Historically, lesbians have had a binary, heteronormative form of expression with the goal of appearing straight in order to stay safe. Likewise, femmes are lesbians or queer women that present themselves more femininely. Mascs/butches are lesbians or queer women that dress, appear or identify as more masculine. The terms “masc/butch” and “femme” have been used for decades to identify categories of lesbian presentation. The LGBTQ+ community and its allies need to adopt a more inclusive viewpoint on the subject and start accepting that lesbians can identify and express themselves in a variety of ways. Ultimately, this perspective misconstrues the importance that certain terms, such as “masc” and “femme,” have in the lesbian community. The rhetoric that lesbian identities and relationships can only be understood through a heterosexual, gender binary lens is harmful and offensive. The American Psychological Association defines heteronormativity as the “assumption that heterosexuality is the standard for defining normal sexual behavior and that male–female differences and gender roles are the natural and immutable essentials in normal human relations.” Beyond the assumption that all relationships are heterosexual, heteronormative standards are also reinforced when people believe that lesbian relationships - specifically masc/femme relationships - need to fulfill male/female gender roles or resemble straight relationships. This is my personal experience, and only one voice of many in the lesbian community who are experiencing identity erasure by heteronormative standards. The very identity she has found solace in is constantly invalidated, as it does not fit society’s standards of what a lesbian looks like. She is also ostracized by not only straight people but also other LGBTQ+ people for being too feminine, and even accused of lying about her sexuality. Suddenly, she is hit with a rude awakening that there is far more hardship in belonging to the LGBTQ+ community than merely accepting herself. She immerses herself into lesbian culture, learning all the terminology and history. Picture this: a 17-year-old girl has accepted her lesbian identity.
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