Masculinity in lesbian discourse: the case of butch and femme

Jones, Lucy

Abstract

This chapter explores the ways in which a lesbian community of practice perform a ‘butch’ identity. It uses discourse analysis to consider an interaction between them, showing a shared sense of self to be produced which rejects traditional symbols of femininity. It is argued that performing a ‘butch’ identity is not the same as projecting a ‘masculine’ self; instead, butch identity is a way of challenging typical expectations about (heterosexual) women and femininity. ‘Butch’ identity is more complex than the mimicry of maleness, as it is often interpreted; instead, it allows lesbian women to perform an alternative, queer female identity.

Citation

Jones, L. (2015). Masculinity in lesbian discourse: the case of butch and femme. In T. M. Milani (Ed.), Language and masculinities: performance, intersections, dislocations. Routledge

• Publication Date: Dec 5, 2015
• Deposit Date: Mar 17, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 17, 2016
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Issue: 7
• Series Title: Routledge critical studies in discourse
• Book Title: Language and masculinities: performance, intersections, dislocations
• ISBN: 9781317638926
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/770219
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in Language and masculinities: performance, intersections, dislocations on 05/12/2015, available online: http://www.tandfebooks.com/isbn/9781315759357.; ; Copyright © 2015. From: Language and masculinities: performance, intersections, dislocations by Tommaso M. Milani, Editor. Reproduced by permission of Taylor and Francis Group, LLC, a division of Informa plc.; ; This material is strictly for personal use only. For any other use, the user must contact Taylor & Francis directly at this address: [e-mail]. Printing, photocopying, sharing via any means is a violation of copyright.