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A stone butch is a lesbian who displays female butchness or traditional " masculinity" and who does not allow their genitals to be touched during sexual activity, [1] as opposed to a stone femme.
The term "stone butch" was popularized by Leslie Feinberg's 1993 novel Stone Butch Blues, which describes the protagonist's explorations of the lesbian community. A large segment is devoted to the tribulations of being a stone butch person, and the experience of being a lesbian while identifying with masculine traits. [2]
Bonnie Zimmerman documents a use of the term to refer to a lesbian who "does not allow herself to be touched during lovemaking", but may experience vicarious sexual pleasure from her partner's enjoyment. [3] Zimmerman notes that this may have been particularly prevalent in the 1940s and 1950s. [3]
The term "stone butch" has also been used in reference to a subculture or set of mannerisms, [4] as opposed to a statement about sexual behaviour. In this context, "stone butch" can describe the opposite of "femme" or "high femme" attributes, [5] although an individual can identify with both categories. [6]
Stone butch identities can overlap with non-binary gender identities and transgender masculine identities among lesbians. [7] [8] [9] [10] The sociologist Sara Crawley has written that, while stone butch and masculine transgender identities may share significant characteristics, the primary distinction between the two is that lesbian self-identification prioritizes communicating one's identity to a specifically lesbian audience, whereas transgender masculine self-identification does not. [11] Similarly, Jack Halberstam has contextualised stone butch identities as one of many distinct female masculinities. [12]
Part of a series on |
Lesbian feminism |
---|
Feminism portal |
A stone butch is a lesbian who displays female butchness or traditional " masculinity" and who does not allow their genitals to be touched during sexual activity, [1] as opposed to a stone femme.
The term "stone butch" was popularized by Leslie Feinberg's 1993 novel Stone Butch Blues, which describes the protagonist's explorations of the lesbian community. A large segment is devoted to the tribulations of being a stone butch person, and the experience of being a lesbian while identifying with masculine traits. [2]
Bonnie Zimmerman documents a use of the term to refer to a lesbian who "does not allow herself to be touched during lovemaking", but may experience vicarious sexual pleasure from her partner's enjoyment. [3] Zimmerman notes that this may have been particularly prevalent in the 1940s and 1950s. [3]
The term "stone butch" has also been used in reference to a subculture or set of mannerisms, [4] as opposed to a statement about sexual behaviour. In this context, "stone butch" can describe the opposite of "femme" or "high femme" attributes, [5] although an individual can identify with both categories. [6]
Stone butch identities can overlap with non-binary gender identities and transgender masculine identities among lesbians. [7] [8] [9] [10] The sociologist Sara Crawley has written that, while stone butch and masculine transgender identities may share significant characteristics, the primary distinction between the two is that lesbian self-identification prioritizes communicating one's identity to a specifically lesbian audience, whereas transgender masculine self-identification does not. [11] Similarly, Jack Halberstam has contextualised stone butch identities as one of many distinct female masculinities. [12]