[BullDog]

Do you use the term "woman" as part of your identity?

Yes

What does it mean to you to use/not use the term "woman?"

It is very empowering for me and makes me feel more connected with other women.

Does tension/discomfort exist for you in using the term "woman" together with butch, femme, queer, or any of your other identity definers? If so, why?

There was a period of time when it didn't seem to quite fit. I have always been very clear that I was not male and have always spoken out strongly against male defaults for butch and been very sure about being female. As I explored my butch identity further, I was feeling butch was a gender into itself for me and that woman didn't really fit because I wasn't like other women. I didn't feel that I had two genders, so I just thought I was butch.

However, I have come to realize that was a mistake for me to not fully embrace woman as part of my gender. It actually robbed me of my strength. I am more about embracing woman now. Butch, woman, female, lesbian all fit together well for me.

If you do not use the term "woman" how did you come to the decision not to?

n/a

How is "woman" different from "female" (and I don't mean in the academic sense, but in the lived experience sense).

I think of female as my biological body, woman is more my sense of self and where I fit in with others in the world.

What does "woman" mean?

It's hard for me to say what woman means. I think woman is what we make it to be. I think butch and femme genders both stretch and expand what woman can be. Maybe I will more to say about this later.

What does "woman" not mean?

My first thought is man.