What Does It Mean to Be Femme? Michael Burk (with expert commentary from Dr. Rhea Ashley Hoskin) Them
About This Post
An accessible explainer on femme identity — its origins in working-class lesbian communities of the 1940s, its evolution into a broader LGBTQ+ label, and how it deliberately subverts patriarchal norms of femininity. Includes perspectives from femme-identified individuals and Dr. Rhea Ashley Hoskin's research.
Key Takeaways
- Femme is a deliberate queer subversion of patriarchal femininity — not a replication of it
- The label originated in 1940s butch/femme lesbian communities and has since expanded across the LGBTQ+ spectrum
- Femme identity is distinct from "woman" — it describes a form of queer self-expression, not a gender identity
- Femmephobia affects femmes of all genders and sexualities, making it important to have language for this shared experience
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What Does It Mean to Be Femme? — Them
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