I Ask ChatGPT Something About A Woman Thing

And it can't help but mention men. So I go on an angry grumpy rant.

I saw this today: ‘Every time I see someone use the terminology "women and femmes" in an article I just... exit the tab. Because why? What are you talking about? I'm looking between your ears and see nothing but an empty void that may or may not be a nesting place for future AI overlords.’

I know, right? It’s like saying “women and women”. Or at least it used to be.

Speaking of AI, I decided to hit up ChatGPT to talk about butch-femme culture.

Give a history of butch femme culture.

Butch-femme culture, also known as butch-femme lesbian culture, emerged in the early 20th century and played a significant role in the development of lesbian identities and communities. It is a subculture within the larger LGBTQ+ community that emphasizes distinctive gender roles and presentations, with butch representing a more masculine identity and femme representing a more feminine identity.

Here's a historical overview of the butch-femme culture:

1. Early 20th Century: The concept of butch and femme identities began to emerge in the early 20th century, particularly in urban centers in the United States. During this time, societal norms were highly heteronormative, and same-sex relationships were often hidden or repressed. Butch lesbians were those who presented themselves in a more masculine manner, often wearing men's clothing and adopting more masculine behaviors. On the other hand, femme lesbians were those who embraced a more traditionally feminine appearance and demeanor.

2. Mid-20th Century: In the 1940s and 1950s, butch-femme relationships became more visible in certain lesbian communities. Butches and femmes often found each other and formed partnerships based on their complementary gender presentations. The roles within these relationships were often seen as mirroring traditional heterosexual relationships, which provided a sense of familiarity and stability for those involved.

3. The Lavender Scare: In the 1950s, the U.S. government conducted a campaign to identify and dismiss gay and lesbian individuals from government jobs, known as the Lavender Scare. This intensified societal prejudice against LGBTQ+ people, leading many lesbian and gay communities to adopt more conservative gender presentations to avoid suspicion.

4. The 1960s and 1970s: The butch-femme culture continued to exist but faced challenges from within the growing LGBTQ+ rights movement. Some feminists and lesbian activists criticized the butch-femme dynamic as perpetuating traditional gender roles and patriarchal structures. As the LGBTQ+ rights movement gained momentum, many individuals began to explore more gender-fluid and androgynous expressions.

5. 1980s and 1990s: The AIDS crisis of the 1980s devastated the LGBTQ+ community, leading to further divisions and reflections on the importance of community and identity. Some butches and femmes continued to embrace their identities, while others sought more inclusive and non-binary expressions of gender.

6. Late 20th Century and Beyond: The late 20th century and early 21st century saw increased acceptance and recognition of diverse gender expressions and sexual orientations. The LGBTQ+ community became more inclusive, embracing a wide range of gender identities beyond the traditional butch-femme binary. Many individuals explored different gender presentations, and some lesbian communities moved away from rigid gender roles.

Today, while the butch-femme culture persists in some circles, it is essential to recognize that the LGBTQ+ community is diverse and continues to evolve. Many individuals embrace fluid and non-binary gender identities and expressions, and there is a greater understanding of the complexity of gender and sexuality. The history of butch-femme culture remains an essential part of LGBTQ+ history, representing the resilience and diversity of queer communities over the years.

End of ChatGPT

See, for me, item 5 references the AIDS epidemic, which was a problem for men and not so much for women. I didn’t ask you about gay male culture, did I, ChatGPT.

And then item 6 pretty much describes the state of old school old fashioned butch-femme today. I witnessed the Ragnarok of Butch-Femme culture online. The original butch-femme.com went offline and a shadow of it’s former self went on Facebook.

A few times, someone joining the group would introduce themselves. If they said something like “Hello, ladies!” they were sternly lectured that not everyone here identifies as female.

One hapless poster asked “But we’re all women here, right?” My heart broke for her. She probably wondered about some of the selfies being posted, like the one where a guy was showing off a slinky black dress in a mirror selfie and his very furry shoulder was in the corner of the foreground of the picture.

Then there was the post asking about where all the butches went. You just didn’t see them anymore, what happened to them? One answer was “thanks for not blaming trans men.” But that WAS the answer. They were all on testosterone and made themselves invisible.

I think originally, LGBT was just about same sex attraction. Women, men, people who can go either way and the butchest lesbians and femmest gay men who transitioned in order to blend in, to look like straight people to outsiders. For butch-femme, the men were irrelevant, although a girlfriend once said there was a corresponding butch-femme thing with the gay men, but I don’t know about that. Maybe that’s what’s up with Blaire White and his paramour. The transed butches stayed in lesbian culture. Sure, butch-femme could be quaint but it was comfortable and it was home. Until it burned down.

I think things fell apart as more letters were added and the crazy narcissistic straight people crashed past the gates and medical and sexual ethics went out the window. The slippery slope everyone was worried about came true, but not because of the gays. It was the straight people, who say things like “women and femmes” and you just KNOW they mean MEN by “femmes”.