Explorations of lesbian-queer genders: Butch, femme, androgynous or “other”

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of gender expression on queer women’s experiences of identity, social interaction and discrimination. This article presents the results of a questionnaire, completed by 149 queer women involved in a southeastern U.S. women’s community in which interactions and norms are strongly influenced by butch-femme gendering. Questionnaires ascertained participants’ age of first awareness of their queer orientation and their gender expression. In relation to their gender expressions, their experience of discrimination, from both the general population and the lesbian community, was assessed. Participants were asked to specify the degree to which their gender expression was important in their social interactions and to assess the impact of butch and femme identities upon the identifying women and the lesbian community. Results indicated that gender expression may relate to butch and femme women’s age of first awareness of sexual orientation and gender expression; experience of discrimination and social interaction; and valuing of butch-femme identification within the queer community.