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Dressing butch v. Cross-dressing: What's the difference?

Discussion in 'Gender Identity and Expression' started by IJustWantToLove, Jun 23, 2014.

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  1. IJustWantToLove

    IJustWantToLove
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    What is the difference between dressing butch and cross-dressing, like where is the line? I'm not trans*, I'm okay with being a girl, I just enjoy wearing more masculine/androgynous/not so girly stuff and since I've come across a few clothing threads which I found interesting, I just wondered about that... I'll try my best to describe what I mean and I hope it doesn't sound too stupid, please excuse my lack of knowledge...

    So far whenever I venture into the men's department I basically go for not overly masculine stuff like Hoodies, T-Shirts, Shorts and Shoes, because I feel like those are things which are mostly not strictly associated with males (like what I mean is you can get somewhat similar hoodies in the women's department, too, so it's not Hoodie = Man). And when I wear them I don't feel like I'm wearing guy's clothes. But I'm wondering if I could for example pull of a obviously men's button down as tomboy/butchy style?
    (Something like that: http://www.amazon.com/Doublju-Mens-Dress-Shirt-Contrast/dp/B0068EB8DK/ref=zg_bs_tab_pd_mw_3)

    I recall several times during carnival when I would wear my father's old suit and tie and dress up as a male figure, that's what I think would be some sort of cross-dressing? Like making the conscious choice of dressing up?
    But when it just sort of fits one's style and doesn't feel overly masculine when worn, would that be dressing butch?
     
    #1 IJustWantToLove, Jun 23, 2014
  2. Shell110

    Shell110
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    To me, "butch" is a clothing style that I wear because it makes me feel more comfortable. When I say comfortable I don't mean that the fabric is soft or loose - its the fact that it accurately expresses my gender identity as a masculine appearing female. For me, dressing butch is more of a personal comfort than anything else.
     
    #2 Shell110, Jun 23, 2014
  3. FireSmoke

    FireSmoke Guest

    I think it's the same. Maybe a butch do it because she's lesbian while a crossdressed do it and could be simply straight?
     
    #3 FireSmoke, Jun 23, 2014
  4. BradThePug

    BradThePug
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    Really, they are both the same thing. I see it as two different ways of saying the same thing. Cross-dressing is wearing clothing of the opposite gender, and many butch people wear clothing for the opposite gender.

    So, I think that the different phrases are 2 ways of expressing the same thing.
     
    #4 BradThePug, Jun 23, 2014
  5. Nightdream

    Nightdream
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    I might be wrong, but I think there's a difference.

    When a woman wants to dress in a butch style she wants to make people know that she's a masculine person while a crossdresser would want to dress herself that way to make people think that she's a man.
     
    #5 Nightdream, Jun 23, 2014
  6. IJustWantToLove

    IJustWantToLove
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    Ok, thanks for clearing this up =)

    ---------- Post added 24th Jun 2014 at 02:13 AM ----------

    Thanks for the replies so far =)

    That's the kind of notion I had, too, I guess
     
    #6 IJustWantToLove, Jun 23, 2014
  7. laurenc

    laurenc Guest

    I personally think when a women wears mens clothing she is just wearing what she likes and is showing everyone who she is (a butch woman) while a women who crossdresses as a man may want to be seen and treated as one and finally some women simply find "male" clothing more comfortable then "female" clothing .
     
    #7 laurenc, Jun 23, 2014
  8. clockworkfox

    clockworkfox
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    I don't know, I think crossdressing can have different meanings to different individuals. When I present male, it doesn't feel like crossdressing because it's aligned with my gender identity, but presenting female, while considered "normal", feels like crossdressing to me, if that makes any sense?
     
    #8 clockworkfox, Jun 23, 2014
  9. darkcomesoon

    darkcomesoon
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    I see it as being about the intention of the person doing it. If you're a girl and you're dressing how you want, and your style happens to be masculine, you're dressing butch. If you're a girl and you're purposely dressing to look like a guy, then you're crossdressing.
     
    #9 darkcomesoon, Jun 24, 2014
  10. warholwendy

    warholwendy
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    I mean does cross-dressing really exist outside of things that serve a purpose for a specific sex? (i.e. jockstrap, bra)
     
    #10 warholwendy, Jun 24, 2014
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