featured
“
I
t’s a s
ha
me t
ha
t
butch
ide
nti
ty
is b
ein
g lo
st –

I s
ee s
ub
ver
sio
n
of ge
nd
er r
ole
s as

a r
e
“
all
y im
po
rta
nt

pa
rt of
co
lle
cti
ve

les
bia
n ident
ity
.
no longer necessary as a method of
asserting oneself as a lesbian woman. It’s
easier than it’s ever been to go out and
fi nd a lesbian partner and lesbian
friends. Generally, you know the
woman you like is gay because she’s in
a gay club, or because her profi le online
says so. Wearing particular clothes is no
longer quite as necessary as it was before.
Representations of lesbians in involves shortish hair and low-slung jeans,
entertainment and media tell the same but these days this tends to be combined
story. The scary bulldykes of Prisoner: Cell with a tight T-shirt and make up. What we
Block H have made way for the dolled-up are left with is a kind of hybrid version of
skinny femmes of The L Word. ‘Lesbian’ is classic butch and modern
no longer a byword for ‘male mainstream female fashion.
impersonator’ – most people, whether A move towards less rigid
they are lesbian themselves or not, now gender norms is a fairly universal
36
accept that femininity and lesbianism are phenomenon, and also extends quiet life.” Many people,
reconcilable concepts. It seems we can, to men. Boys are now using skincare particularly men, fi nd butch
largely, dare to dress in a way that pleases products without being mocked for it, women threatening. If you don’t feel like
us rather than donning some prescribed and male make-up is starting to catch on. making a political statement every time
‘lesbian uniform.’ David Beckham even inspired men across you go out, then you’re unlikely to want
It seems the stock lesbian style has the country to start donning sarongs. to identify as butch.
become more feminine at the same time The ‘metrosexual’ male look is becoming So, is the increasing invisibility of the
as mainstream female fashion is becoming commonplace. What we are seeing in the butch dyke a positive development, as we
more androgynous. It’s becoming harder lesbian community could just be viewed all move towards more fl uid expressions
to tell if the cute short-haired girl as a part of what is going on in the world of our gender roles, or are we succumbing
opposite you on the tube should be at large. to the oppressive infl uence of straight
tickling your gaydar or not. Sporting a Of course, the alternative view is that society and losing a precious part of
pixie crop and putting on a pair of slacks butch women are so stigmatised that lesbian culture? It remains to be seen if we
for a big night out are no longer fashion younger, perhaps less political, women are will simply continue to become more
faux pas for a straight woman. Could it be feeling frightened to adopt the style in feminine, or if trends will change direction
that straight girls and gay girls are meeting case they are attacked for it. Stevie, 23, altogether. Who knows? There could well
in the middle when it comes to fashion? says: “I feel more comfortable wearing be a backlash, and we might see a massive
There’s defi nitely still a predominant clothes that don’t immediately identify resurgence in butch style! In which case,
trendy lesbian style, which normally me as a lesbian. I would rather just have a can someone lend me a lumberjack shirt?
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116