[Jett]

I read this most recent exchange several days ago and it just feels itchy... how would an outside person is actually even begin discern this? That someone is really a butch but is identifying as something else because of expectations or peer pressure? I think my thing is, (because it wasn't explained) how and why are we assuming this person is a butch in the first place? Because of how they look? Their behaviors? Just because two things appear similar doesn't mean they are at all... but I think we all know this.

Ok, taking andro here because it's been put forth... I think andro as a personal ID is a complete and legit identity outside of butch and sometimes along with it but I'd say confidently unique from it in the majority of instances. It has some pretty specific features as a "rule" (dually or non-gendered) that aren't a "rule" in butch identity. I dunno, positing that any significant amount of people that identify as andro (or stud/tomboi/trans/etc. on and on) really aren't and are really butches in hiding and this phenomenon would be supposedly common enough to make a dent in the populous of the butch pool I think is a pretty damn big leap and seems slightly arrogant as well ("seems" I absolutely don't think it was intended that way). But what really is bothering me about the whole thing is I also believe it really appears to minimalize legitimicy of those all identities as separate- unique- important- valuble- equal and desired identities on their own and apart from butch (also perhaps taking away from butch also by kind of just throwing everything under the sun in the pot).

Do I think butches are a dying breed? No I don't and I don't think they ever will be. But I do think that a lot of people who have (or would have) identified with "butch" in the past did because it maybe seemed the only or closest option and those particular identities are now finding better ID's/terms (for them)... or even older reclaimed, revamped or renewed ones that more closely and clearly suit them in their own unique path. I'd assume if someone ID's in a certain way that that is what they are and that only a miniscule fraction would NOT identify with their true selves because of what they percieve others to think.

Is it personal to me? Yes and no... yes I identified as a butch for over two decades and I now identify as a tomboi (as in queer tomboi not straight ones as I personally think there's a big difference)... SOLELY because tomboi is for the most part much more specific to me, more specific in appearance, the sex the vast vast majority of tombois/y's personally associate with and most especially the behaviors, like and dislikes... and no it's not personal because really for all intents and purposes at the end of today when I've got my girl under my arm and a movie in the DVD player I could really give two shits about gender theory or what anyone else thinks of what I am... I just am.