In both the film and text there is a similar aura given off on the outlook of lesbian feminist vs. butch lesbians. “Deeper than the sexual positioning was the overwhelming love I felt for their courage, the bravery of their erotic independence.” (Nestle 105) In the movie If These Walls Could Talk II, there was a scene when the two females were speaking in a doorway and the butch lesbian character stated “I’m more than just the way I dress.” Afterwards there was a mutual awakening on both sides acknowledging one another on a newer more profound level.

                In the film “If These Walls Could Talk II” portrayed butch lesbians as someone who has masculine and feminine traits, behaviors, styles, expressions, and self-perception. The specifications of a lesbian is often used in order to categorize identities of  someone who is either gay or Lesbian, or bisexual, individuals in terms that are recognized as similar to heterosexual gender roles, with butch shows a masculine counterpart. Femmes were dressed in feminine clothes, high heels and wore makeup, and Butchs dressed in suits and hats and looked very manly. In the film the butch lesbians had to endure a verbal onslaught simply because people think that butch lesbians shouldn’t be of this society. Although many may not be able to understand butch lesbians or their love for each other, will drive those individuals to hate. In the film, there was a scene where the two lesbian friends made the butch lesbian take off her masculine clothes and put on feminine clothing. Therefore making the butch lesbian upset with the two lesbians because they did not understand this is how he portrays himself the public.

               In the reading “Butch femme relationship”, it portrays a butch lesbian in a derogatory manner, looking at them as if they are too manly and different. But the truth is that a butch lesbian is someone so brave, empowered, and puts their pride aside, truly expressing themselves as they feel. What makes them sexy is their ability to embrace their masculinity regardless of society’s standard and live freely despite all the judgement. When they embrace themselves it radiates a level of confidence that many can’t understand. People will just say they’re just trying to act like a man, but maybe it’s because insecure individuals feel threatened by a woman who’s as masculine as a man and is more dominant. This feature is attractive to many, and the way butch lesbians simply present themselves creates the attraction between two partners, not being based simply off of physical features.

                   Lesbian feminine and butch lesbians have their own personality and if you mistaken one for the other, in their mind they have a way they want to be portrayed as. If mistaken by something other than what their personality reveals they might take offense to it. You can not confuse a lesbian as a butch or vice versa. Their personalities reveal who they are and that should not be mistaken or taken casually. They are comfortable in the skin (and clothes) they are in no matter how cliché that may sound to you as an outsider looking in. At the end of the day people are always wanting to be seen for who they are not what they possess or do not possess. Whether it is the way dress themselves or a characteristic of oneself. For us, these beautiful butch lesbians are as sexy as can be due to their onus of who they are!

Works Cited:

If These Walls Could Talk II. Dir. Martha Coolidge. HBO Films, 2000. Film.

Nestle, Joan. “Butch-Femme Relationships: Sexual Courage in the 1950s.”In A Restricted Country. Ithaca, NY: Firebrand Books, 1987.