A stud lesbian is a term that describes masculine-presenting lesbians, most commonly within Black and Afro-Latinx communities. More than just a style or attitude, stud identity represents strength, confidence, and cultural pride. This article explores the origins of the term, its significance within queer culture, how it differs from “butch,” and why studs play a vital role in the visibility and empowerment of queer Black women today.

What is a Stud Lesbian?

Stud lesbian is an identity that primarily represents masculine presenting lesbians within black and Latinx communities. This identity is deeply rooted in a history that emphasizes self-expression and resilience. Studs navigate gender norms while authentically embracing unique aesthetics and relationship roles. Here, we will explore stud identity, history, terminology, and intersectionalities. This article also contains information on representation, visibility, and community support. The goal here is to provide education and insights that increase understanding and uplift Latinx and Black queer women who identify as studs.

Terminology

Before one can understand the experiences or identities as Black or Latinx lesbian women who identify as studs, it’s important to know some baseline vocabulary.

Stud Lesbian

The term stud lesbian refers to a black or Latinx woman who embraces masculinity in the way she dresses, conducts herself, and navigates relationships – all while maintaining a cultural identity rooted in her heritage.

Butch

Within the scope of queerness refers to masculine associated mannerisms and appearness. Outside that scope could mean masculine, tough, or aggressive. Was once associated with a tough kid or an aggressive girl. Despite some assertions – the word is not derived from Butch Cassidy.

Black Butchness

A phrase that highlights the uniqueness of black, masc lesbians that emphasizes the racial and cultural differences between them and white, butch lesbians.

Butch Lesbians

A term describing masculine presenting lesbians. It is more often associated with white lesbians. However, Black and Latinx women may also self-identify as butch. Stud lesbians are considered to be a more racially specific variation of butchness.

Masculine Energy

An abstract concept that is the energy or vibe that comes from confidence, mannerisms, and personality traits that are commonly associated with masculinity. Many Stud lesbians embody this.

Gender Roles

Limitations, privileges, and expectations that are inflicted upon people based on their assigned genders. Stud lesbians often challenge these through behaviors such as dressing masculine or assuming dominant relationship roles.

Sexual Fluidity

The concept that sexual identity can be flexible over time. Some Studs may challenge rigid identity categories, though Stud culture often discourages dating men.

Black Community

The social and cultural environment that is part of the shared experiences of Black people. This is where Stud lesbians spend a significant amount of time navigating acceptance, visibility, and challenges.

Male Gaze

This is a concept born from feminist theory that describes how feminine ideals and representations are often filtered through the perspectives of heterosexual men.

Angry Black Woman

A racist stereotype in which Black women are portrayed as unjustifiably hostile and aggressive – essentially painting their justifiable emotions as irrational while presuming they are incapable of a range of feelings and reactions. Stud lesbians are particularly given this label in response to their confidence and masculine energy.

Racially Specific Variation

The idea concept that Stud lesbians evoke a culturally distinct form of masculine lesbian identity, which is different from other expressions of masc or butch lesbian culture.

Lesbian Lexicon

Idioms, slang, words, and phrases used in the sapphic community to define cultural experiences, roles, and identities.

Stem

Latinx or black lesbian women who fall somewhere between Stud and Femme. This term has been mostly adopted by non Afro Latinx women as a way to identify as butch without co-opting a more racially specific term.

Stone Top

A lesbian woman who will give, but does not want to receive during sex.

History

It isn’t possible to separate stud lesbian culture from that of Black women who have experienced decades of navigating gender expression, racism, and queerness. The word stud, used in 2SLGBTQIA+ culture, refers to Black, masc, lesbian women who wear masculine clothes and typically dominate in their romantic relationships. This identity was born as part of the ever-expanding lexicon that is employed in queer Black circles as a way to uniquely identify life experiences that may not be shared with white lesbians, even those who are masculine or butch.

The origin of the word stud lesbian isn’t entirely certain. It appears to have been coined in the 1960s at the intersection of queer and anti-racist activism. Although, the word butch can be traced back to the World War II era which was used to describe an aggressive woman.

Ethel Sawyer conducted a study on Black lesbians in the Midwest – “A Study of The Public Lesbian Community”. As part of her work, she spent time with black lesbians at a queer bar in North St. Louis. Her research is the earliest known sociological study of black queer women in the United States. It was there that she learned that many of these women in the Midwest referred to themselves as Stud.

Black women who adopted the word to represent black, masculine presenting women may have also influenced the straight, CIS men in the black community. This is supported by research published by Laura Lane Steele, “Studs and Protest-Hypermasculinity: The Tomboyism Within Black Lesbian Female Masculinity” in the Journal of Lesbian Studies in which she discusses the adoption of masculine traits commonly associated with Black men as a form of protection against racism and sexism that targets black women both in and out of the black community.

Writer Roxanne Gay once said, “Black women often get read as butch whether they are butch or not. Black women in general are not seen, so black butchness tends to be doubly invisible. Except for Studs. They’re very visible.” It’s also notable that going back to the times of chattel slavery, femininity and the protections associated with it was often stripped away from Black women.

Later, in 1972, lesbian feminist writer Anita Cornwell wrote in the Los Angeles Free Press, “The butch, who in all black gay circles that [she had] ever encountered [was] labeled ‘stud.”

Today, the term has become popularized on social media. There are several popular accounts on social media apps. There was even a trend in 2019 where stud women posted images of themselves dressed masc and then wearing more fem attire.

It’s important to note that not every black masculine identifying lesbian considers herself to be a Stud lesbians. However, all studs are queer black women as it is a racially specific term. Although some queer white counterparts have attempted to coopt this word for their own use, this is frowned upon. Stud is a word that has been historically used by Black, masculine lesbian women as a way to differentiate life experiences that are specifically relevant to them. This form of culture vulturism just exacerbates racial inequalities.

Flags & Symbols

There are some flags and symbols that may resonate with studs, black lesbians, or other masculine identifying queer women. Not all of these represent studs specifically, but have been embraced by the lesbian community as a whole.

Butch Lesbian Flag

This flag was created by Tumblr user Butchspace.

The colors are red for passion and sexuality, red-orange for courage, light orange for joy, white for renewal, beige for chivalry, orange for warmth, and brown for honesty.

Butch Lesbian Pride Flag

The inclusive flag for butch individuals was designed in January 2021 by Tumblr user nbgender. The colors represent the following: red-orange stripe for a variety of experiences between individuals. The light red-orange stripe stands for connection/community with butches. The small, light orange stripe represents non-conformity and connection to masculinity. The large yellowish-white stripe is for the rich history and butch femme culture and solidarity. The small yellow stripe represents stone butches. The yellow-orange stripe is for the connection/community to/with femmes. The orange stripe represents the inclusion of marginalized identities.

Butch Symbol

Should I Identify as a Stud Lesbian?

Before anything else, are you a black woman? The term stud is not for queer white women, gay men, or others who are not black women. This includes white women who identify as butch or masc. Opinions vary to some extent on whether Latinx women should use the term stud. If they are Afro-Latinx lesbians, then they certainly can. However, non-Black Latinx women may encounter some resistance. There’s no firm consensus on this, and this topic tends to drive deeper discussion and debate. Just be aware of all the words you can use to self-describe, and then make a cultural sensitive choice.

Ultimately, Stud is a subjective, self-applied label. Like any similar identity, you may encounter individuals who tell you that label does not fit you. In similar fashion, there are women who have the label Stud applied to them when they don’t identify that way.

If you think you might be a Stud, seek out support and information. Begin following butch lesbian creators on social media, especially other Stud Lesbians. Experiment with looks and hairstyles that you believe fit you and present in the way you like. Remember that Studs and other butch or masc lesbians can be stylish and fashion-forward. The notion that they must be frumpy fashion disasters is outdated.

Do you have to have sex in a certain way to be a Stud? Not necessarily. The way a Stud engages in their relationships is very personal and very subjective. Just be aware that there are plenty of ways to perform a masculine role in ways that are healthy, consensual, and loving. You don’t have to be a hard date or domineering. Know that you can be verse, stone top, or a power bottom as a Stud.

Supporting Stud Lesbians

Thanks to mainstream popularity, more women feel comfortable openly presenting as Studs or with other butch/masc identities. This is a good thing as the ability to live authentically for one group benefits all groups. To be an ally or advocate for studs, start with racial awareness which includes:

• Becoming educated on the intersectionalities of race, gender, and queerness
• Following queer black women creators
• Engaging in a process of deconstructing harmful socialization and belief systems regarding race, gender, and queerness

You can also benefit from learning more about the full range of gender identities, roles, and expressions. Embrace all of these as valid, and speak up when you witness them being invalidated.

Anyone who genuinely wants to be an advocate or an accomplice should also understand that Black, butch women have historically faced marginalization from inside and outside of their community groups. Don’t assume that your queerness or blackness makes you immune from bias.