Butch

Butch is a term used within lesbian, queer, and feminist communities to describe a person who presents or identifies with a masculine gender expression. It is usually applied to women or women-identified people, and it does not necessarily indicate male gender identity or heterosexual orientation. Butch can encompass a range of expressions from androgynous to clearly masculine, and individuals may vary in how they embody it.

Origin and history: The term emerged in American LGBTQ slang in the mid-20th century as part of the butch–femme dyad within lesbian subculture. It has been associated with roles in social spaces like bars, dating, and activism, and has also been adopted by transgender and nonbinary communities to describe masculine presentation. The counterpart term is femme.

Variants and related terms: Within butch identities, speakers use further labels such as soft butch, hard butch, and stone butch, describing degrees of masculinity and relationships. In some communities, "stud" is used for a masculine-presenting woman, particularly in Black and Latina lesbian cultures. "Boï" or "boi" is used in some trans and queer spaces as a related term.

Cultural significance and contemporary usage: Butch has been central to queer history, including bar culture and political organizing. Today, many people use "butch" to self-describe; others prefer gender-neutral or more specific terms such as masculine-presenting or masc. The term can also be criticized for reinforcing rigid binaries or being fetishized; some people prefer fluid or non-fixed expressions.