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Butch Visibility and Femslash
Mar. 5th, 2009 11:46 amMy original plan had been to write an essay-type thing discussing disappearing Butch visibility in femslash (which I'm beginning to think isn't the case and change to just visibility instead of implying that it's disappearing). I was going to ask in various comm's for fic recommendations in regards to Butch-type characters. Then I became stumped because:
In 2009, how do we define 'Butch'?
For me it's an 'I know it when I see/read it' thing. But I also understand my definition may not be the same as everyone else's. I also believe that the political/cultural/social landscape has changed over the years and that's had an influence (positive and negative) on what the definition is/has turned into.
I'm also having a hard time processing my thoughts because I'm trying to avoid masculine/feminine 'labels' because I do think the paradigm has changed in some ways. When it comes to fan fiction and femslash, lesbians are at a disadvantage because of how under-represented we are in media. Yet, being 'poachers of text' Butch visibility shows up in our fics but, in someways, I feel like it's subtexted (and God do I wish I could explain what I mean by that). Like, I'm completed fascinated (and totally in love with) the 'Blake in drag' subgenre of Gossip Girl. I'd also say 'girl in boy body' genderswap plays into this as well. There's also the old school days of 'Butchy McFabulous', ie, Olivia Benson. But I don't want to get too caught up in the 'look' because Faith? Totally butchier than Olivia. Which goes back to media representation. Women can be strong, tough, independent but, when the target audience is men aged 18-45, can't be too unfeminine. So we take characters meant for the male gaze and transform them through our own filters to make our own.
I'm just having a hard time *defining* that filter.
So, yeah, those are my completely incoherent thoughts on the subject. Thoughts, questions, funny anecdotes.. and the possibility of fic recs? And, which characters would you describe as 'Butch'?
In 2009, how do we define 'Butch'?
For me it's an 'I know it when I see/read it' thing. But I also understand my definition may not be the same as everyone else's. I also believe that the political/cultural/social landscape has changed over the years and that's had an influence (positive and negative) on what the definition is/has turned into.
I'm also having a hard time processing my thoughts because I'm trying to avoid masculine/feminine 'labels' because I do think the paradigm has changed in some ways. When it comes to fan fiction and femslash, lesbians are at a disadvantage because of how under-represented we are in media. Yet, being 'poachers of text' Butch visibility shows up in our fics but, in someways, I feel like it's subtexted (and God do I wish I could explain what I mean by that). Like, I'm completed fascinated (and totally in love with) the 'Blake in drag' subgenre of Gossip Girl. I'd also say 'girl in boy body' genderswap plays into this as well. There's also the old school days of 'Butchy McFabulous', ie, Olivia Benson. But I don't want to get too caught up in the 'look' because Faith? Totally butchier than Olivia. Which goes back to media representation. Women can be strong, tough, independent but, when the target audience is men aged 18-45, can't be too unfeminine. So we take characters meant for the male gaze and transform them through our own filters to make our own.
I'm just having a hard time *defining* that filter.
So, yeah, those are my completely incoherent thoughts on the subject. Thoughts, questions, funny anecdotes.. and the possibility of fic recs? And, which characters would you describe as 'Butch'?