Butch Privilege-Story of a Knocked-up Lesbian Back
By Mindy Stokes
Our first night in Florida, Katie went to see her mom. Soleil hadn't seen her grandma since a year ago March, so they were excited to visit. Because Amy is amazing, she offered her SUV for Katie to drive. She handed my lovely partner keys and said to have a good time. But there was something missing from this exchange: Amy didn't offer to back the vehicle out of the garage. WHAT?
Yes, it's true. Amy assumed her buzz-cut friend knew how to back-up the car. She assumed Katie could do this just because of the size of watch she dons on her hairy forearm and the fact her chap stick doesn't have a pink tint. In fact, Katie's so butch, that she lets her entire lower face get chapped from Pacific NW weather rather than to wear a little Carmex. When she does break down and finally swipe something on her lips, it's Vaseline only. Crazy!
When I brought this to the attention of these big-watch wearing dykes, they smiled, then turned and nodded to each other.
So I've decided it's my duty to write about Butch Privilege/Butch Behavior and what they encompass.
Butch Privilege
1. Butch nod
2. Automatic respect whether earned or not
3. Believed to be able to paint whether she can or not
4. Believed to be able to do plumbing whether she can or not
5. Believed to be able to lay tile whether she can or not
6. Believed to be able to change oil in the car whether she can or not
7. Believed to always "pack" whether she does or not
Butch Behavior
1. Butch swagger
2. Butch's assumption she can get any woman she wants and any job she desires, especially if it's in a traditionally male dominated field
3. Butch takes pride in her ability to lure straight women to the light whether she stays on the queer side or not
4. Butch can bring home the bacon, grill it, then serve it on a paper plate
5. Butch has on average six big, bad-ass watches she wears depending on her mood
6. Butch likes football whether or not it offends her feminist sensibilities
As you can clearly see from my short lists (which will grow soon) these women have unearned privilege. It's unjust and unfair. So I've taken it upon myself to expose these inequities. I have to. I'm a feminist!
