The Sapphic Sanctuary
Butch
A masculine-of-center identity and presentation with deep roots in lesbian and sapphic culture. Butch is an identity people claim for themselves, not a costume you put on someone else.
Last updated: July 19, 2026
Butch rose out of working-class lesbian communities in the mid-20th century as a name for masculine-of-center women and, later, many transmasc people who claim the word. It can describe clothes, manner, gender feel, or all of those at once.
Butch is not the opposite of being a woman, and it is not a slur when someone uses it for themself. Calling somebody butch without knowing how they identify is a good way to get it wrong.
Related identities include femme, stud, and soft butch.