Masculine, Butch, Macho
Ambivalent Academic left this comment on my blog a while back, and I have just now had the time to respond.
I was wondering if you could/would say more about masculinity/femininity and some of these other identifier adjectives as they relate to male/female gender presentation…
OK, I’m flying my cis privilege flag here I know. Please don’t feel obligated to respond. In an attempt to educate myself I’ve run across these terms more than once and I’m struggling with the difference between these identifiers:
masculine
butch
machoI have experienced that these are all stereotypically equated with “male”, but how do they relate to one another? What is the difference, specifically, between them? (Is there a difference?)
I “feel” a difference when I read these words but I can’t articulate it, and I guess what I’m trying to understand is what they mean to someone who uses or recognizes subtleties between them as identifiers in hopes that I can sensitive to those expressions of gender and identity.
It’s true, the cultural definitions of macho, masculine, and butch are incredibly similar and are largely based off an assumed maleness of some variety. The differences are minute, and I would argue, are flexible, as these terms can be reclaimed in ways that defy their “typical” definition. I’ll define each one based upon my own experiences and cultural knowledge. My definitions however, will not be universal as I think people interact with terminology in different ways based upon a multitude of intersecting identities. Dually, I am not going to do too much linguistic history on this. Anyways, enough disclaimer. Here we go:
Masculine
This is typically a descriptor of a set of cultural norms about men. Masculine things would include appearance, and behavior norms, but also incorporates inanimate objects (such as tools are masculine while make up is feminine). When masculine is separated from men and applied towards, women for instance, “butch” is born (in terms of cultural norms/assumptions). However, you can also claim masculine as a descriptor for one’s self, outside of one’s gender.
Butch
A descriptor of masculine appearing women via gender presentation (looks, dress, walk, talk, ect). This is typically linked to sexual orientation, and if one is viewed as butch, it’s often in conjunction with an assumed lesbian identity. Butch can also be an identity. Butch sometimes is viewed as the opposite of femme. Butch is not typically associated with trans women, and is often a label that is incorrectly put on many trans men. The “lines” of butch vary with class, age, race, and other factors.
Macho
Short for “machismo”. It’s a display of excessive masculinity. Macho is typically always used in conjunction with men (and there is always an assumption of cis men) and a type of behavior or look. For instance, excessive “puff my chest out” posturing amongst men can be labeled “macho”. Then again, by some this may be labeled “masculine”. Either way, “macho” generally means OVERLY (and usually unnecessarily) masculine.
Hope that helps!
Filed under: All Posts, Cultural Analysis
I don’t know about “butch” not being used to describe trans women, especially when it comes to trans women in queer women’s communities. I think it comes up a good bit when talking about trans women who don’t identify as particularly femme. I hear it used a lot in queer men’s communities, too, talking about guys who are pretty masculine.
I think the way these words are used changes a lot depending on the community you’re talking about, making them tricky to pin down (which I guess is the case for a lot of words that can be used to describe identity/gender).
While I know it’s not really relevant within the context of this site, queer men (cis and trans) are often “butch”.
I’ve always understood “butch” as a way of pointing out that someone’s masculinity isn’t something that you might expect. Female people and queer men are expected to be feminine, so their masculinity is “butch”. I could be wrong, of course.
In my experience, I haven’t noticed any connection between “macho” and birth-assigned sex. It does seem to be related to a gender presentation, though. When a masculine person is being overtly masculine, they’re being “macho”.
Drag kings are considered “macho”. Lots of butch lesbians are described as “macho”. Men–cis and trans–are described as “macho” when they display hyper-masculinity. It’s often used negatively, but not always.
Thank you Huck and Caleb – very helpful indeed.