Butch

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lytni7Y4Rg1qzoz4do1_400.jpg

Check out this link picture of Alison Bechdel, “Fun Home”. I think it is exactly what transgender and transgenre is all about. I recommend reading this if you haven’t already. This graphic novel links to the Gaga Feminism that we are reading. And to this post of about…

Butch

             I have always hated name-calling, and swearing. But to see this in J. Jack Halberstam, “Gaga Feminism, it’s strange and interesting. This word, which must have been with her since she was younger and even now, this word, which might have ripped her apart as she was dealing with her ambiguous nature. But in this essay, she brings back her power oven that word. She relates to Dory (the fish from ‘Finding Nemo’), saying “Dory is a butch fish, and her eclectic mode of being encourages everyone around her to rearticulate his or her own sense of connections.” As the author connects to this fish, which is a symbol for all in this category, that there is hope and the world is changing. Dory I believe is exactly what Halberstam is doing in gaga feminism, encourages, rearticulate his or her own sense of connections. 

“The category we call “butch” is quite identified with sexual fixity in many cases, and the appellation of the category “stone butch” actually names that fixity: stone butch generally means a totally masculine woman, or a very masculine lesbian, and it also indicates a disinclination for penetration.”

HALBERSTAM p86

 I believe that penetration is a form of dominance. So someone can be penetrated as well as someone can be penetrating. Guys can be penetrated.  Both guys and females can be more or less dominant. It depends on the individual.

            Name calling, this word ‘butch’, the world is changing and with that words change and views change as well. yes butch can mean a very masculine women or it could mean a very dominant men, whether he like girls or guy, he is on top. Or it could just be a guy named Butch, like Butch Cassidy. The important thing is the author is using this word to slowly gain control of the word, flipping it on it nose and changing it.