Butchmatch VIII: More Than Human

[cdybedahl]

Xena won over Lyta Alexander with 23 votes to 6, which was not surprising although I don't personally agree. This is the final match in the first round, so starting tomorrow the winners from this round will start meeting each other (and I have decided to randomize the match order again, BTW). The losers from the first round will get to meet each other again in a single eight-way match just before the final round, to decide which one of them is the most femme (unless someone manages to convince me otherwise before then).

And now, cast your votes for the one of these two who you think should move on to the next round...


[Poll #281641]

Comments

[quixotic-sense.livejournal.com]

... I abstain.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

Because they're both too darn butch, because they're not or because you just plain would rather not see either of them ever again?

[quixotic-sense.livejournal.com]

Frankly, I can't choose between the two. Neither of them are particularly butch to me -- badass femme, maybe. Though, if really pushed, I may vote for Seven of Nine. Maybe.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

"Badass femme" is a pretty good description of Buffy, I think. Almost all my knowledge about Seven comes from reading J/7 slash, which may be a slightly biased source.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if my vote registered or not, but I'd say definitely Buffy; she'd be the dominant force in any relationship, and her enthusiasm for weapons does seem a masculine trait.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

That'd be "not".

And Buffy is also quite into pretty clothes, makeup and traditionally female stuff. She was a cheerleader, for one thing. Seven didn't even grow up in a human society, so she has none of that.

[child-of-air.livejournal.com]

To be honest I don't think anyone is really "butch" that you've posted about so far with the exception of Xena. The whole idea is silly, when it comes to trying to find someone butch on television. Mainstream american tv has always cut out real butch women, since that wouldn't be very acceptable to the majority of society, and its networks are afraid of portraying anyone that doesn't fit in with the stereotypical idea of beauty (so as not to alienate a male audience). There aren't even real butch women on the show The L Word, even though it's sopossed to be about lesbians!Although popular, Xena also came on on a saturday morning when it was showing, which says much in terms of ratings.
Obviously, we live in a country that is just too damned sexist and homophobic to portray a really butch character.
Why are you always writing about lesbians? Is it because they fascinate you or because you wish you were one? Do you want to own their sexuality? I guess I don't really understand.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

It's none of those, actually. It's that I just can't get my mind around what it feels like to be attracted to a man, so I consistenly fail at writing that in a manner that I find convincing. At the same time, I like women and want to write about them, and it's fun to write erotica/porn, so, well, female/female it becomes. Fascinate me? Of course. But so does all non-mainstream sexualities. It's just that most of them I don't even begin to understand, on an emotional level. Being attracted to women, that one I do understand. I'm sorry if my writing bothers you.

"Own their sexuality"? I don't even understand what that would mean. Explain, please?

And what do you mean by "butch"? The way I'm used to hearing the term used out in the real world, 5th/6th season Gabrielle definitely is. Faith too, to a reasonably large extent. You seem to imply that being conventionally good-looking is a hindrance to butchness, which sounds strange to me, since I thought it was exclusively a personality thing.

[child-of-air.livejournal.com]

It's not that it bothers me, I was just trying to figure out where exactly you stand on the matter and why you write about women with women.
When I think of butch: I think of women that look less stereotypically beautiful- they don't wear makeup, they have their hair short, and they dress more as a man typically would. It's both a personality thing and a fashion thing. Although one can look butch without actually being dominant. Of course I get the defination from the lesbian community, a community in which I've been a part of since I was fourteen (the time I came out.) In the lesbian community you are usually judged first by the way you look- someone who wears makeup and heels would be considered a femme, regardless of how they act. A woman who is a blending of the two is softimes called a soft butch, or futch, heh.
Owning sexuality: that's what I think alot of straight men want to do when it comes to women and lesbians in particular. If they are not involved in their sexuality they try to involve themselves, which is why you have lots of girl on girl porn which is made for men. It's not called lesbian, but girl on girl becuase it somehow involves the man and reminds him that the women, whom are pleasing each other, are actually pleasing him first. Example: When I was dating a girl and we were sitting at a bar kissing, several men, who I didn't know at all, would try to include themselves and ask us lewd questions, like "Can I watch?" Other times they'd try to get us to go farther than kissing and put on some sort of "show". It was totally offensive- they were trying to own and control our sexuality because they couldn't stand the idea of not being involved.
I don't think it's that way with you though. You seem like if you saw to lesbians kissing you'd be respectful. I hope you see where I'm coming from. I didn't have any intention of taking you off my list, unless you want me to.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

It's not that it bothers me, I was just trying to figure out where exactly you stand on the matter

As long as it's between informed consenting adults, I'm in favour of anything. Even things I personally would find revolting.

Of course I get the defination from the lesbian community

I get mine from my female bi friends (one of who I'm also married to), about half of which are actively involved in the lesbian community around here in some way. And the impression I get from them is that they care a lot more about behaviour than looks. Which is not to say that looks are disregarded, of course. So maybe it's a US/Europe thing.

that's what I think alot of straight men want to do when it comes to women and lesbians in particular

Ah, that sort of thing. I assure you that if I ever descend to that the friends mentioned above will kill me. For my own good, of course, since I will clearly have lost my mind. And seeing women kiss each other is a "when" rather than an "if" (although, as mentioned, they're mostly bi rather than lesbian) in my life. As far as I know I've never treated them any different from mixed-gender couples.

The dropping thing was just a suggestion in case you found my silly contest thing too revolting to want on your friends page, nothing more. I don't want you to be upset, so I tried to think of a way to solve the problem. And that is very male thinking, I'm told.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

Forgot to say: If my silly contest thing bothers you, I suggest you remove me from your friends list, at least for the time being. I'd really rather not stop doing it halfways through... I'll drop a note in your journal when it's over and done with, if you like.