Body+Image+of+Queer+United+States+Females

toc =**What is Queer?**= [|**Queer**] is an umbrella term used in the **Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender** (LGBT) community. Queer can be used as an identifier to ones sexuality or how they express their gender. Queer is a term that was used in a derogatory way against LGBT peoples, and has made a shift in the past decade and is now a term of empowerment. Best example of this word being used as a term of empowerment is at Gay Pride Parades during a famous chant called, [|"We're Here, We're Queer"].

**Queer Female Body Image**


Queer female body image is distinct from heterosexual female body image (Farr 2008). Many queer females experience their bodies differently than heterosexual females as they are not appealing to heterosexual male views of beauty. Sub-cultures have been created within the queer community that give rise to body confidence and a distinct image (Atkins 1998). Many of these subcultures have risen from a struggle to be accepted amongst the queer community. Female Queer subcultures are, but are not limited to, femme, butch, and fat queer. Within each of these subcultures exist body image messaging and views. There are three aspects that impact queer body image (1998):

1.Experience of [|**Biculturalism*] 2.Negative stereotype 3.Sexual intimacy with other women

Research on body image has focused mainly on heterosexual women or disregarded sexuality all together (Pitman 200). Laura S. Brown is the pioneer for bringing LGBT body image to the spotlight. Brown’s book __Looking Queer: Body Image and Identity in Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender communities__ explains the reasoning behind body image norms in the female queer community:

“a. two provide community – to identify with one another without being oppressed by the dominant group. B. to provide group identity and thus separate norms from the dominant culture” (1998).

However, queer women do not come out of the womb immune to social American standards of beauty (Wagenbach 2003). Research has been conducted on heterosexual college women compared to college-aged lesbians. The findings have shown that there are similarities in how the two experience their bodies at this age, negative body image and eating disorders (Ludwig & Brownell 1999). As queer females age there is a difference in how their body image develops. The coming out stage serves as not just a time to accept one’s own sexual orientation, but also their body image (1999). The [|**The Identity Project**]is a great example of how body image in the queer community can change in an individual overtime and all the unique ways appearance can be expressed in the queer community. Just within femme and butch subcultures exist subcultures.



**Femme**
[|Femme] (derived from the word feminine) is a term often linked to women who identify as lesbian and dress in a way that is considered traditionally feminine. Femmes have received slack from those within the queer community as they are viewed as “passing as straight" (1998). The femme movement birthed from queer women not wanting to conform to a butch appearance just because they identified as queer (1998). Being Femme becomes not just a way to dress, but a political statement of one’s sexuality. Femmes are not only dressing in a way that works for them, but making the statement that there is no “way” to look queer (1998). Queer femmes experience body image ideals no different than any other female in the United States, but how they handle the expectation is quite different (2003). Queer femmes are not appealing to heterosexual males, so the way in which they manage their outer appearance and views of how their body looks is often times accepting just the way it is.

**Butch** [[image:tumblr_m48mrdsyoh1qe0n30o2_400.jpg width="153" height="224" caption="Butch Queer, Dapper Q model "]]
[|Butch] is a term used to describe [|masculine of center]queers who dress in a traditionally recognized masculine way. Butch queers are similar to femmes in that they are using the way in which they dress “to challenge heterosexual cultural objectification" (2003). Butch queers are generally identifiable by the way in which they dress within the queer community and also outside of the queer community. As queer identities became more mainstream, butch identities were linked with being the “man” of the relationship (Farr & Degroult 2008). Some queer couples adhere to [|heteronormative] views of their relationship. Generally, queer couples do not recognize a “man” in their relationship (2008). Quoting one of the most famous butch-identified queers, Ellen Degeneres, who says: “asking lesbians who is the man in the relationship is like asking which chopstick is the fork” (E.Degeneres, personal communication).

Butch queers are not concerned with being skinny or fitting a slim ideal of beauty. There is empowerment in accepting your body the way it is and dressing in a way that works for you. There is a movement for butch females to not feel uncomfortable when they purchase clothes. Most butch females have to shop in the men’s department and this can be confronting for all parties involved. In an effort to ease the tension, websites like [|Dapper Q], a popular blog that provides a comfortable outlet for butch queers to find attire that works for them. Dapper Q also has an audience from butch subcultures like androgynous and tomboi queers. As butch queers for decades have dealt with being mis-gendered. People assume that they are men by the way they present.

Mis-gendering impacts butch queers being comfortable in not only public bathrooms, but also gym and recreational establishments. Studies have been conducted on queer health and have found that a reason for butch women not wanting to work out in gyms is that they experience harassment and discomfort (1999).

** Fat Queers **
Queer females make up a large majority of fat acceptance movement (1998). Like, Butch queers fat queers have not been added to the conversation around health and wellness. Many fat queers view the health and fitness world as “political oppression” (1998). Fat queers have stayed away from gyms as their experience has been that they were being judged by their size, i.e. fatphobia. Mary Lambert an out lesbian and well-known for her collaboration with Mackelmore on the song, “Same Love,” has been the spokesperson for fat female queers. She was featured on the April 2014 [|**Curve Magazine**] Body Love issue, where she speaks candidly about her growth to accepting her body. [|"Body Love"] is a popular Mary Lambert song that speaks to her journey and experience as a fat queer and leaves an uplifting message for all people. Other than Lambert, organizations and performance groups have also found ways to empower fat queers. Nolose is a non-profit organization that’s aim is to “end the oppression of fat people and create a vibrant fat queer culture” (Curve Magazine 2014). [|**Rubenesque Burlesque**]a burlesque troupe that exist to provide a space for females who identify as fat to showcase their talent and feel beautiful in the process (2014).

Much research on queer body image has been limited to a White Western view (1999). There has not been much information on queers of color, let alone fat queers of color (1999). The Canadian-based [|**"It Gets Fatter"**] video project was created to bring a face to people of color (POC) who identify as fat queers.

Courtney Trouble is the owner of [|Queer Porn TV], porn star, and a fat queer. Trouble created Queer Porn TV to depict real queer people enjoying sex. Fat queers are not only making a political statement about their bodies, they are leading the way to body acceptance at any size.