Butch.

Right, it's about time I wrote a blog about something well, worth writing about. I finally settled on a topic, so I'm going to write about stereotypes in lesbians. 


"If lesbians are attracted to women, then why do they all look like men?"


I can safely say that there is nothing more irritating than hearing someone say that. You always hear that there are two types of lesbians, the butch, and the femme. The butch are considered the most "male" of the two. Is this because of the way they dress, the way they act, or more than this? Lesbians dressing or acting like men isn't just a case of having to because they're lesbians, it can be a definitive part of their personality which they express using men's clothing, or even styling their hair the way a man would.
If a woman wears men's clothing, or carries themselves in that manner, it doesn't mean the person inside is male. The person inside this exterior as a general rule, is a woman. They still have breasts and the genitalia of a woman. So, just because of the way they dress or act, they shouldn't be judged any differently, because at the end of it all, they are a woman. As a majority, they all think, and feel like a woman does. This is what most lesbians see when they look at a woman, they see who's inside them, not this exterior. It's all too simple to look a butch woman and think immediately that they act like a guy. 
In some cases, the personality does coincide with the way that they dress and present themselves, this could be to do with what makes them more comfortable, or deeper rooted thoughts and feelings. 
On a personal level, I usually feel more comfortable behaving like a male, as opposed to female. I do see myself as female, but I do feel as though my characteristics are particularly male. Being "girly" has never been my kind of thing since I was young, and I don't particularly feel comfortable enhancing the female part of my character as a general rule. I am comfortable in the body that I am in, but I can see the appeal of dressing and acting as a male. It's a lot easier to throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt on a night out, than pick out a dress, heels and wear make-up. 


To conclude, as a general rule, the way a lesbian may act and/or dress, does not necessarily mean that they're dressed as "men". They dress and act as they do because that's the way they feel most comfortable, and if it's their choice to do so, we should respect that rather than raise questions about their sexuality.