| It's
What's New in the Gay and Lesbian Arena
Butch, Dyke, Femme or Lipstick Lesbian?
What Do They Mean and Where Do they Come From?
I've been caught out myself quite a few times.
I've been hanging out with a group of lesbian friends in a bar, catching
up on gossip and the latest on off relationships (much like the L Word),
when someone surprises me with a term where I just haven't got a clue what
they are on about! I used to nod my head in failing agreement trying to hide
the fact that I haven't got the slightest inkling whether Jane who lives
down the street is a Dieseldyke, or not!
It got to the point where I was too afraid to
say much in case I made a fool of myself - so, instead of vegging out in
front of the TV, I hit the web by storm and researched all the lesbian terms
I possibly could so I would never fall into the same trap again. Now I consider
myself to be pretty much on par with everyone else, but I thought I would
make it easier for you womyn out there who aren't quite up to scratch by
publishing it all right here!
So here it is - my lesbian terms dictionary.
I've even thrown in some of the origins of words so you can look extra clued
up next time your buddies go out for coffee. I haven't organized it
alphabetically, but in groups of terms that have similar meanings.
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Women Who Love Women
Boston Marriage
Definition: Old fashioned term describing two
unmarried women who shared a house together.
Origins: This originates from the nineteenth
century when it was acceptable for two unmarried women to share a house together.
It is hard to say how many of these women were lesbians!
Lesbian
Definition: A gay woman. This is often shortened
to les or lesbo.
Origins: This term was originally used for natives
of the Greek island of Lesbos. An ancient poet called Sappho lived here and
wrote many love sonnets to women or describing same sex relationships. It
was first used as a term to describe a gay woman in the 1890's.
Sapphism
Definition: Another term for lesbianism
Origins: Direct origination from the poet Sappho
who wrote love sonnets to and about women.
Masculine Vs Feminine
Butch
Definition: Used to describe a lesbian who is
masculine in appearance and outlook. Often relates to the way she dresses,
the hairstyle, the shoes she wears etc.
Origins: There are conflicting stories as to
where this term originated from. Some say it comes from 1930's America from
Butch, a strong and popular man's name of that time. Others believe it stems
from the 1950's when both in the UK and USA working class lesbian couples
dressed as one masculine and one feminine, whilst the middle class preferred
to hide behind their feminine demeanor. Another important influence on Butch
lesbians comes from the same period in lesbian bars where you were forced
to dress Butch or Femme. Such distinction in dress is not as apparent nowadays
but when you know someone that prefers power tools to cookery and dresses
in comfy men's clothes then she's probably a Butch at heart.
Dyke
Definition: Another term for butch.
Origins: This may have originated from the Celtic
language, or possibly from the slang word dike used in the nineteenth century
which means male clothing. This term is widely accepted in lesbian circles
but if a straight person were to call you a dyke this is thought to be offensive!
Bulldyke:
Definition: Incredibly masculine lesbian.
Origins: This supports the theory that dyke
originates from the Celtic language as Queen Boudicca was around at the time
and she was known for being an incredibly powerful woman.
Dieseldyke
Definition: Once again this term means incredibly
masculine lesbian, particularly those that drive heavy equipment and trucks.
Origins: Good old 1990's slang!
Soft Butch
Definition: A lesbian that appears hard and
masculine on the outside but has a soft heart! This is a relatively new term.
Baby Dyke
Definition: A young lesbian that's coming out.
Femme
Definition: A lesbian who dresses in a feminine
nature and has a feminine manner. Femmes are said to prefer skirts, flouncy
clothes, makeup, and spending inconceivable amounts on their hair. They are
the opposites of Butch.
Origins: This originates from the same time
as Butch became popular in the 1950's where lesbians were forced to choose
which way they would dress in bars, or the working class lesbian couples
chose to dress that way.
Lipstick Lesbian
Definition: Another term for Femme. However
it can also mean feminine women who are attracted to other feminine women.
It's also used to describe women who pretend to be lesbians, just for personal
gains. For example, where would the porn industry be without all those women
who have sex with other women just for the money!
Origins: This is a slang term introduced in
the late 1990's.
Everything In-between!
Androgynous
Definition: A lesbian who is neither masculine
nor feminine in appearance or behavior. Universally known as Unisex.
Chapstick Lesbian
Definition: Another term for Androgynous
Origins: Introduced in the late 1990's to take
on all those lipstick lesbians out there!
So there it is; my guide to lesbian terms. Short
and simple, I know, but this should certainly keep you up with the rest of
the pack. I often think, though, that many of the terms - such as Butch and
Femme - relate to what the person is, or appears to be on the outside. All
I can say is that I know some women that appear Butch on the outside but
are as feminine, and soft, and flouncy, on the inside as any Femmes out there.
Maybe some day these terms will evolve to describe personality, and emotions,
but for now let's just be satisfied that we finally understand what everyone's
harping on about!
The
following is a poem taken from our eBook,
The
Big eBook of Gay and Lesbian
Poetry. It speaks for
many.
Labels
Coming Out = in your face
Hiding in the closet = in disgrace
Lipstick lesbo, short skirt, polished
nails,
Butch bitch with strap on if all else
fails.
Femme filly preening wind swept hair.
Bisexual babe; boy; girl; or pair?
Wannabe les trying to speak the lingo,
Baby dyke in denial with her mum at bingo
Dieseldyke out riding her Harley,
Androgyny the chosen path for Carly
We don't label them so why do they care?
Will being a lesbian ever be fair?
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