This Lesbian Visibility Week, we’re unpacking the beautiful history of our language
BY SHANNON MOYCE, IMAGE BY GETTY
We recognise the physical attributes that define femme and masc lesbians. But how did these archetypes originate, and how have they transformed through generations? This deep dive explores the rich and complex history of masc and femme, tracing their evolution within the lesbian spectrum.
The terms masc and femme lesbian have seen increased usage in recent years, but historically, butch and femme were the prevailing terms. The roots of these identities stretch back to the early 20th century, with women experimenting with fashion and identity. These early expressions, while often hidden or coded, laid the groundwork for the more visible butch and femme identities that emerged later.
The terms gained significant prominence in the 1940s, notably within working class and Black communities’ bar culture. These bars provided a space for women to socialise without men, offering a degree of freedom rarely available in wider society. Those who presented in non-conforming ways became known as “Saturday Night Butches”, a term that acknowledged the duality of their lives, where they might adhere to societal expectations during the day and express their true selves at night. This bar culture also allowed for experimentation with gender expression, which held particular significance for some within the emerging trans community. It’s important to acknowledge, however, that these spaces were not without risk; police raids were common, and those who dared to express their identities faced the constant threat of violence, arrest, and social ostracisation.
Within this bar culture, butch and femme became shorthand for lesbian relationships. While butch-butch and femme-femme pairings were present, the butch-femme dynamic became the most recognised within the sapphic community, which in turn created underlying issues as those who didn’t conform to this were sometimes made to feel unwelcome.
Initially used to describe a relational dynamic, butch and femme soon became standalone identities. Following World War II, challenging traditional gender norms intensified, leading many butches to reject the part-time nature of “Saturday Night Butch” identities in favour of full-time butch expression. As for the femmes, Jewelle L. Gomez, a Black femme lesbian writer, articulated, “We are in a war for liberation, butches are the front-line troops and femmes are the tactical guerillas.” This highlights how, despite the visibility of butch gender expression, femmes played a crucial role in lesbian liberation.
During the 1960s and 70s, the butch-femme dynamic faced significant criticism from some segments of the lesbian feminist movement, who argued that it mirrored heterosexual power structures. It’s important to recognise that this critique was primarily voiced by white cisgender lesbians and often failed to acknowledge the nuanced roles that trans and queer people of colour played in shaping these identities. Black lesbian and trans voices, who challenged this perspective, were often ignored or erased. Individuals like Stormé DeLarverie and Marsha P. Johnson, pivotal figures in the Stonewall Riots, exemplify the essential contributions of these communities, highlighting the diversity and complexity of butch and femme expression.
The 1980s and 90s saw butch-femme identities experiencing a resurgence, marked by a move away from rigid definitions and a celebration of the diverse expressions within these labels. The ball culture scene, which was largely made up of people of colour, also heavily influenced the ideas of masc and femme during this time. The move away from rigid definitions was especially important for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals, highlighting the growing understanding of gender fluidity and intersectionality.
In contemporary queer culture, in online and offline spaces, “masc” is often used in place of “butch”, though the underlying expressions of masculinity remain similar. However, both masc and femme identities continue to thrive and evolve, showing their enduring relevance within the queer community. The history of masc and femme is a living, breathing testament to the resilience and creativity of the queer community, and continues to evolve to this day.
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