Are butches really a dying breed?

[LeftWriteFemme]

[LadyRieinAL]

I've never expected anyone to pump my gas, or take the garbage out, it is just the way it has always been, in my relationships.
I've always worked, I've always done what ever it took to make my relationship work, I've always given and pulled my fair shair.
Everyone I've ever been with has always been stronger than I am, they have to be, to open my mayonaise jars.
In gardening, which I love to do, my partner has always been the one to dig the holes and I plant and cover it with the dirt. Normally around my house in the past, if I cook, my partner washes the dishes.
I've never know anything other than being a girl - I don't even own a pair of tennis shoes - I refuse to change the oil on my car, but I don't expect my butch to do that, I'll pay someone, just as I would pay someone to cut the grass. But you know what, all that is done is always done out of co-creating a better relationship, it has nothing to do with expecting someone to do certain chores. I just know there are certain things that a Butch is better equipped to do. And I am appreciative!

[rustedrims]

I didnt mean to offend you in anyway.I apologize if i did.
That stuff i mentioned is automatic to me.I just do that stuff because i get alot of satisfaction out of pleasing my partner.I want her happy.The biggest thing is that i am such a tightwad.If there is anything i can do for myself or for you free i will attempt it.I am not that stuborn to realize if i cant do something i will get help.I also ask for directions.{eventually}.

I appreciate Femmes and all the sparklie stuff that goes with them.
I love Femmes!!

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by LeftWriteFemme

Do you think the L wording of the world lowered the Butch count?

Good morning! This is a really interesting question to me today because I attended the Philadelphia qFest's event yesterday, featuring Rose Troche, who directed "Go Fish" as well as "The L Word".
http://www.qfest.com/film-details.cfm?c=266&id=10669

I know we've had good discussions on this site about media representation of Butch-Femme community, should we start a fresh thread about it? I'm curious about your thoughts. Its a fascinating question- Does less media representation make for less butches/Femmes? Or are we too small a "market" to drive development of media about us? Even at this queer film fest, it was slim pickings.

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

Good morning! This is a really interesting question to me today because I attended the Philadelphia qFest's event yesterday, featuring Rose Troche, who directed "Go Fish" as well as "The L Word".
http://www.qfest.com/film-details.cfm?c=266&id=10669

I know we've had good discussions on this site about media representation of Butch-Femme community, should we start a fresh thread about it? I'm curious about your thoughts. Its a fascinating question- Does less media representation make for less butches/Femmes? Or are we too small a "market" to drive development of media about us? Even at this queer film fest, it was slim pickings.

Im not sure I am understanding you here.

"Does less media representation make for less butches/femmes?" Are you suggesting there is a cause and effect between the media and people becoming butch/femme? Or are you saying the media could bring light to the sometimes invisible aspects of the butch/femme community? Or am I totally missing the point?

"Even at this queer film fest, it was slim pickings." Does this mean there was not as much of a visible presence of butch/femme in the way you expect it to look? Or, does it mean it was not well attended? Or, does it mean there was no one you gave thought to hitting on? LOL. Couldnt resist that one.

[LeftWriteFemme]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

Good morning! This is a really interesting question to me today because I attended the Philadelphia qFest's event yesterday, featuring Rose Troche, who directed "Go Fish" as well as "The L Word".
http://www.qfest.com/film-details.cfm?c=266&id=10669

I know we've had good discussions on this site about media representation of Butch-Femme community, should we start a fresh thread about it? I'm curious about your thoughts. Its a fascinating question- Does less media representation make for less butches/Femmes? Or are we too small a "market" to drive development of media about us? Even at this queer film fest, it was slim pickings.

Originally Posted by Kobi

Im not sure I am understanding you here.

"Does less media representation make for less butches/femmes?" Are you suggesting there is a cause and effect between the media and people becoming butch/femme? Or are you saying the media could bring light to the sometimes invisible aspects of the butch/femme community? Or am I totally missing the point?

"Even at this queer film fest, it was slim pickings." Does this mean there was not as much of a visible presence of butch/femme in the way you expect it to look? Or, does it mean it was not well attended? Or, does it mean there was no one you gave thought to hitting on? LOL. Couldnt resist that one.

So my next question is do you think films like Pariah will encourage young Butches to come out?

[The_Lady_Snow]

LeftWriteFemne brought up a point that is being missed, cultural terms and ID's.

Butches are EVERYWHERE! They may just have another word/words to describe them.


Machas

Studs

Aggressives

Tombois

There's a plethora of sexy out there, you sometimes have to dig a lil deeper

[*Anya*]

Originally Posted by The_Lady_Snow

LeftWriteFemne brought up a point that is being missed, cultural terms and ID's.

Butches are EVERYWHERE! They may just have another word/words to describe them.


Machas

Studs

Aggressives

Tombois

There's a plethora of sexy out there, you sometimes have to dig a lil deeper

This point was kind of teasing in the back of my mind, thanks Snow!

All you need to do is to go on YouTube and take a look at the many, many channels started by young butches that may simply have another name for their identity.

There always have been butches and femmes and there always will be butches and femmes!

I will go into geek mode here, thanks to the last episode of BSG (that is Battlestar Galactica, for those that did not watch the outstanding SciFy channel series-sorry for the digression):

“All of this has happened before and all of it will happen again".

Butches have not and will not be going anywhere but may indeed evolve, by choice, over time.

[Turtle]

The name of this thread still pisses me off...

[rustedrims]

Originally Posted by Turtle

The name of this thread still pisses me off...

What else would you call it to mean the same thing ?

[Turtle]

"Where and How Do You See Butches" or possibly "Butch Sightings"

[arcstriker]

A dying breed?

Let me see, (touching my human self in the arms and legs, breathing deeply in my lungs...exhale..slowly)....and to steal from monty python I declare myself..."Not dead yet"

I think a lot depends on where you live. Here in the cold northern State of CT there are a lot of butchs...young and old and in between. There are a lot of B/F couples in various age groups that are raising up their children and step-children. I see them downtown, in the stores, at the town fair and driving down the streets. As a far as can see we are very visible.

Turtle..Butch Sightings..hummm now thats a great title...I invision in my mind a bunch of femmes packed in a convoy of Land Rovers creening the country side... armed with cameras, binoculars, and picnic baskets of deli sandwichs to lure us butchs out of our natural habitat for a rare photo shoot of the elusive butch on the streets.


I like it!


I think someone here mentioned the L word...I think the bit that was done with Kit and Ivan was well done...as for anyone being casted as a Butch on the streets, Hollywood in general fails us....but then again, it is my thought that Hollywood wants to present only what is appealing to the straight world not to my world or life experience. Its not a money maker and if portrayed acurately it will upset the gentle order of the world. and ..GOD we can't have that!

I even look at our subscription of Curve and there is nothing that remotely presents a butch as a butch on the streets! It trys to soften things up and to me its a sell out!

[morningstar55]

Yes.... they must b a dying breed, cuz must b y am still single . "sigh""

[alexri]

Originally Posted by Turtle

"Butch Sightings"

This is all in good fun-- I'm picturing me walking on a trail somewhere... femmes in the distance with binoculars and camouflage... setting a trap...

[arcstriker]

Go for it my brother!

[Vivacious1]

I think that whether butches are a dying breed really is a relative question, it depends on who you ask and what they consider butch!
As for myself, Old School Butches seem to be far and few between. I have very definitive ideas of what my butch is made of. What frustrates me is what I look for and what some "butches" portray themselves as are two very different things. I believe with every ounce of me, it has to come natural. I can tell if it doesn't. I have witnessed the true butch/femme dynamic and it is beautiful, it flows effortlessly and lines are clear. So... I guess in essence, for me it seems as if my ideals are not dying but hidden?

[Sun]

My take on this is that the Butch is very much an alive breed and everywhere.

It seems that younger generations may be rejecting some labels or perhaps what they consider older labels. For me I was born Butch and before I began a really intense inner journey to sort through my gender identity I was content with using the term Butch all the time. We all begin somewhere, some of us migrate and some stay at home. There is a lot of pride in how we own
Our identities as it should be. Sometimes I found myself over thinking all of this.

One thing that remains is that the Butch Femme dynamic no matter what path we take, is amazing, unique, beautiful and ours.

[~ocean]

Originally Posted by Sun

My take on this is that the Butch is very much an alive breed and everywhere.

It seems that younger generations may be rejecting some labels or perhaps what they consider older labels. For me I was born Butch and before I began a really intense inner journey to sort through my gender identity I was content with using the term Butch all the time. We all begin somewhere, some of us migrate and some stay at home. There is a lot of pride in how we own
Our identities as it should be. Sometimes I found myself over thinking all of this.

One thing that remains is that the Butch Femme dynamic no matter what path we take, is amazing, unique, beautiful and ours.

dayummmm such a seductive way of explaining what is sooo natural ty~

[Sun]

Originally Posted by ~ocean

dayummmm such a seductive way of explaining what is sooo natural ty~

Thank you Ocean.

[Two-spirit]

Originally Posted by Sun

My take on this is that the Butch is very much an alive breed and everywhere.

It seems that younger generations may be rejecting some labels or perhaps what they consider older labels. For me I was born Butch and before I began a really intense inner journey to sort through my gender identity I was content with using the term Butch all the time. We all begin somewhere, some of us migrate and some stay at home. There is a lot of pride in how we own
Our identities as it should be. Sometimes I found myself over thinking all of this.

One thing that remains is that the Butch Femme dynamic no matter what path we take, is amazing, unique, beautiful and ours.

Smiles,

Well said..for me I'm a two-spirit and I like being called a warrior..it describes my nationality,butchness,and my heritage...