Quote:
Originally Posted by C0LLETTE
Is it possible that the question "Are butches really a dying breed" and its use of the term "breed" is itself problematic in that it implies some common essential characteristic? And that, in turn, might lead people to respond in particular ways.
Is the question asking whether fewer people are identifying as "butch" or whether there are now fewer people with certain identifiable characteristics around? Or maybe it is asking something altogether different.
I am curious how others might interpret the question. If someone has already posted on this point and I missed it, I apologise in advance  |
This is an interesting thought. Perhaps you weren't suggesting this exactly, but I can see how when one read the title of the thread that they may read "Butch breed" to mean "true butch".
In an American Kennel Club dog competition, for example, there is a descriptor used to compliment a dog. They will say the dog is "true to breed". This means that the dog fits the identifying characteristics defined by the breed (based on AKC standards). So, by extension, one could see the thread title as speaking to "true butches".
I have no idea if anyone read the title this way (and it doesn't seem to be that way to me based on the posts), but I see what you are saying.
For me, I saw the title as referring to those individuals who identify as butch, full stop.
One thing that I really like about this site is that the accepted definition of gender identities is who the person says they are. I wouldn't be a part of a site where others defined who is and who is not butch or femme.