Butch Identity Development: The Formation of an Authentic Gender

The present article explores the gender identity development of butch lesbian women, as conveyed in semi-structured interviews. A grounded theory (Glaser and Strauss, 1967) analysis of the women’s developmental experiences was performed. From these results, a model was formed that illustrated the process of their gender identity development, in interaction with the development of their sexual orientation. Butch gender identity development is posited as a healthy process complicated by the societal pressures to conform to gender roles, and is offered as an alternative to a diagnosis of gender identity disorder.