Tonight I continued Michelle Gibson, Martha Marinara, and Deborah Meem's article entitled "Bi, Butch, Bar Dyke: Pedagogical Performance of Class, Gender, and Sexuality." And as the title of this post indicates, we're moving to the Butches, written by Deborah Meem. Before we begin, however, I just want to say that I am not a fan of "labels" as it were. Labels often create binaries, and in those binaries things become fixed. If I've learned anything over the past 8 years, it is that identity is never fixed, which is what I believe these three women are arguing as well with their own personal narratives.
Meem gives us three (really four) personal narratives about her identity as a Butch lesbian. She gives us a chart that is often used in women's studies courses called the "Multiple, Simultaneous Identities" chart. The top line identities are privileged, the second line less privileged, and the third the least. The chart shows that we all inhabit, or perform, different identities. While being a lesbian/gay is a less privileged position to hold, Meem places "butch" on the top, or most privileged, line. Her three stories actually demonstrate why she has made this identity one of privilege, and after I gave it some serious thought, I can see her point.
This embodied performance of a more masculine persona actually brings with it a degree of power. You are perceived to have these masculine traits that even men respect. Well, once again, the ole light bulbs starting going off in my head. Again, I do not label myself, but I believe I am perceived as having a more butch identity than that of femme. If this is indeed the case, than I suppose, according to Meem's theory, this gives me a higher degree of power. People see me as being strong, confident, and decisive (all traits that are usually associated more with a masculine identity than a feminine one). Perhaps this explains why I have often found myself in positions of leadership or authority, when all I was trying to do was stay hidden.
Meem mention the Bem Sex-Role Inventory test, so I decided to go online to see if I could find one. I did and decided "what the hell, not like I'm holding anything back here" and so I took the test. To see the results, click the more button at the bottom. The fact is, Meem's has opened my eyes to how, once again, we perform so many different identities on a daily basis. Can't wait to see what the Bar Dyke has to say!!!!
Meem gives us three (really four) personal narratives about her identity as a Butch lesbian. She gives us a chart that is often used in women's studies courses called the "Multiple, Simultaneous Identities" chart. The top line identities are privileged, the second line less privileged, and the third the least. The chart shows that we all inhabit, or perform, different identities. While being a lesbian/gay is a less privileged position to hold, Meem places "butch" on the top, or most privileged, line. Her three stories actually demonstrate why she has made this identity one of privilege, and after I gave it some serious thought, I can see her point.
This embodied performance of a more masculine persona actually brings with it a degree of power. You are perceived to have these masculine traits that even men respect. Well, once again, the ole light bulbs starting going off in my head. Again, I do not label myself, but I believe I am perceived as having a more butch identity than that of femme. If this is indeed the case, than I suppose, according to Meem's theory, this gives me a higher degree of power. People see me as being strong, confident, and decisive (all traits that are usually associated more with a masculine identity than a feminine one). Perhaps this explains why I have often found myself in positions of leadership or authority, when all I was trying to do was stay hidden.
Meem mention the Bem Sex-Role Inventory test, so I decided to go online to see if I could find one. I did and decided "what the hell, not like I'm holding anything back here" and so I took the test. To see the results, click the more button at the bottom. The fact is, Meem's has opened my eyes to how, once again, we perform so many different identities on a daily basis. Can't wait to see what the Bar Dyke has to say!!!!
RSS Feed
