What Are the Masculine & Feminine Types of Lesbians?

Queer linguistics educator and cultural commentator Dean Modah explains different types of lesbians

Co-authored by Dean Modah and Samantha Fulton, BA

Last Updated: July 15, 2026 Fact Checked

Whether you’re butch, femme, or somewhere in between, there are lots of ways to identify within the lesbian community. While sexuality and how you experience it is a wide spectrum and can’t be boiled down to just one “type,” there are definitely labels that lesbians can and do identify with. We’ve partnered with LGBTQ+ culture experts to break down some of the well-known types of lesbians, and we've listed them in order from those on the masculine-presenting side to those that lean more feminine. Let’s get started!

What different types of lesbians are there?

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An image depicting a spectrum of common lesbian identities based on gender presentation.

Queer linguistics educator and cultural commentator Dean Modah says lipstick lesbians, chapstick lesbians, and soft butch lesbians are common types of lesbians. Lesbian “types” are typically split up based on whether they present more masculinely (butch, masc) or femininely (femme, black cat). Many fall in between.

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Butch Lesbian

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A butch is a masculine-presenting lesbian. There are a few variations of butch lesbians (which we’ll cover), but LGBTQ+ culture expert NV Gay says this is also an overarching term for masculine sapphics.^{[1]
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NV Gay
LGBTQ+ Culture Expert

Expert Interview} Butch lesbians may enjoy a more traditionally masculine aesthetic by sporting shorter hair or men’s clothing.
- What’s the history? Working-class lesbians adopted the term in the 1940s. It was originally used to describe tough kids and likely came from the word “butcher.”^{[2]
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- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Sara Ramírez (they/them)
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Dean Modah is a cultural commentator specializing in queer linguistics and LGBTQ+ Vernacular English. He is the creator of the “Basic Gay Vocabulary” series, where he breaks down queer slang for an audience of over 310k followers.

NV Gay is an LGBTQIA+ activist and educator, who focuses on empowering and uplifting marginalized communities. They are also the author of The Queer Allies Bible and host of the Born This Way Podcast.

2

Stud Lesbian

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“Stud” refers to masculine-presenting sapphics of color. “It represents Black queer culture,” notes Gay.^{[3]
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NV Gay
LGBTQ+ Culture Expert

Expert Interview} Like butch lesbians, studs tend to opt for a traditionally masculine appearance in their style and mannerisms. The key difference between a butch and a stud is race—this can manifest in different variations of masculine haircuts and dress, although there is overlap between the two aesthetics.
- What’s the history? The term “stud” dates back to the 1960s. It came about as a means of differentiating the lived experience of Black, masculine lesbians from white, masculine lesbians.^{[4]
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- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Lena Waithe (she/her)

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Dapper Butch

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A dapper butch plays on old-school masculinity. This is an aesthetic variation of the butch lesbian type. Dapper butches might rock a suit, suspenders, or bow tie. This aesthetic draws on a classic, traditional type of masculinity. They present masculinely, but they might opt specifically for classy fashion choices like loafers, pocket squares, and ties.^{[5]
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- What’s the history? This is just a variation of “butch” lesbians. It likely grew in prominence within online queer spaces, but the general origin is the same as it is for butches (1940s working-class lesbians).
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Melissa King (she/they)

4

Soft Butch

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A soft butch is a masculine lesbian who still enjoys their femininity. Modah says a soft butch may embody the masculine archetype but still feels aspects of their femininity. “They may not feel equal parts masculine and feminine,” he adds.^{[6]
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Dean Modah
Queer Linguistics Educator and Cultural Commentator

Expert Interview} For instance, a soft butch might rock a more masculine style but with feminine touches like makeup or jewelry.
- What’s the history? Soft butch is a variation of a “butch” lesbian, a term that originated in the 1940s among working-class lesbians. The specific “soft butch” label likely arose in the 2000s in online queer spaces.
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Jacqueline Toboni (she/her)

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Masc Lesbian

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“Masc lesbian” is another blanket term for masculine-presenting sapphics. There’s generally more fluidity to being masc than being butch. This type can encompass any lesbian who taps into their masculine side through mannerisms, tone, or style expression. It’s pretty open to interpretation, so there’s less of a hard and fast aesthetic.
- What’s the history? “Masc” is simply an abbreviation for “masculine.” There may be some overlap in history with the term “butch,” although the two don’t necessarily refer to the same thing.^{[7]
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- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? E.R. Fightmaster (they/them)

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Hey Mamas Lesbian

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A hey mamas lesbian is a slightly meme-ified variation of masc lesbians. This type of lesbian may wear snapbacks and sports jerseys and rock an undercut with long hair. In the world of sapphic TikTok, hey mamas lesbians are typically associated with exaggerated swagger and a mild cringe factor from posting thirst traps. But hey, confidence is confidence.^{[8]
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- What’s the history? The term “hey mamas lesbian” originated on TikTok in 2020 to describe masc lesbians posting thirst traps. It’s sometimes used as a way to poke fun, so be careful about when and how you say it.
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Avery Cyrus (she/her)

7

Sporty Lesbian

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Sporty lesbians are masc-leaning sapphics with an athletic aesthetic. Sporty lesbians can have any gender expression, but the aesthetic is typically associated with more masculine lesbians. This aesthetic might involve athleisure wear, sneakers, and jerseys. A sporty lesbian might also have more of a laid-back vibe and an active lifestyle.
- What’s the history? While “sporty lesbian” is a modern term from online spaces, there’s a rich history of queer resistance within women’s sports. Sapphics in athletic spaces have historically fought against stereotypes and discrimination for decades.^{[9]
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- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Megan Rapinoe (she/her)

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Soft Masc

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A soft masc is typically androgynous and blends masculine and feminine traits. This is similar to a soft butch, but as with “butch” and “masc,” there’s some subtle differentiation. Since “masc” is typically a more fluid term, the same goes for soft mascs. Soft masc lesbians may tap into androgyny in a wide range of ways. Plus, soft butch implies a heavier emphasis on masculine traits, while soft mascs are usually more androgynous.^{[10]
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- What’s the history? This term came from platforms like TikTok and Reddit and is a trendy variation of the phrase “masc lesbian.”
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Towa Bird (she/her)

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Golden Retriever Lesbian

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A golden retriever lesbian is a happy-go-lucky, masc-leaning sapphic. This term is a spin on the “golden retriever boyfriend” trend. Golden retriever lesbians are often high-energy and eager. Typically, they lean toward the masculine end of the gender presentation spectrum, but golden retriever lesbians can have all sorts of aesthetics—this type of lesbian is more based on personality and vibes.^{[11]
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- What’s the history? This term gained popularity on TikTok and came from the viral black cat vs golden retriever personality theory.
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Josette Maskin (she/they)

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Chapstick Lesbian

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Chapstick lesbians present more femininely but with a casual style. They have “a muted feminine sensibility,” notes Modah.^{[12]
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Dean Modah
Queer Linguistics Educator and Cultural Commentator

Expert Interview} Chapstick lesbians may have a feminine presentation but are just more comfortable with casual clothes and Chapstick rather than a more feminine style and heavy makeup. This type of lesbian might toe the line between androgyny and femininity.
- What’s the history? Ellen DeGeneres jokingly called herself a Chapstick lesbian on her talk show, Ellen, in the 90s, which popularized the term. She used the term to describe herself as in between the masculine and feminine lesbian types.
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Samira Wiley (she/her)

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Stem Lesbian

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A stem lesbian is a sapphic of color who embodies masculine and feminine traits. This term is a combination of the lesbian types “stud” and “femme.” Stem lesbians are similar to soft butches or soft mascs, but the term is reserved for Black and Latinx sapphics. These lesbians might have a tomboy aesthetic but with a distinctive feminine touch to their style.^{[13]
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- What’s the history? Like the term “stud,” this term came from a desire to differentiate the lived experience of lesbians of color from that of white lesbians. Stem likely gained its popularity on TikTok.
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Amandla Stenberg (she/they)

12

Black Cat Lesbian

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A black cat is a feminine-leaning lesbian with a dark and mysterious aura. This is the typical relationship counterpart to the golden retriever lesbian. Black cat lesbians are often independent, mysterious, introverted, and boundaried. Like the golden retriever lesbian, a black cat lesbian describes personality more than aesthetic. However, black cat lesbians tend to dress in sleek, feminine looks.
- What’s the history? As with “golden retriever lesbian,” this term came from the viral black cat vs golden retriever personality theory on TikTok.
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Katie Gavin (she/her)

13

Low or Lazy Femme

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Lazy femmes are feminine lesbians who don’t subscribe to traditional beauty standards. This means they identify with femininity, but they don’t necessarily tap into it in ways that “fit” the norms associated with being feminine. This can mean opting for low-maintenance beauty routines, rocking casual styles like leggings and a t-shirt, and expressing their femininity in more nuanced ways to appeal more to the female gaze.
- What’s the history? It’s not totally clear where this term came from. It likely originated and gained popularity on queer sites online and social media platforms.
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Reneé Rapp (she/her)

14

Femme Lesbian

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Femme lesbians present, well, femininely! They often enjoy traditionally “girly” aesthetics and may wear skirts, dresses, and makeup. However, femmes still push against traditional gender norms by catering their femininity to the female or queer gaze rather than the male gaze. Historically, femmes are paired with butches in relationships and as a representation of either end of the gender presentation spectrum among sapphics.
- What’s the history? The term “femme” emerged at the same time as “butch,” among working-class lesbian communities in the 1940s. Back then, femmes were lesbians who sexually and romantically preferred butch lesbians.^{[14]
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- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Alexandra Shipp (she/her)

15

Lipstick Lesbian

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Lipstick lesbians are the most feminine-presenting type of lesbian. This is a variation of femme lesbian but with the femininity cranked up several notches. You might use this interchangeably with “high femme.” This contrasts with “Chapstick lesbian,” which Modah says was coined as an alternative to lipstick lesbians.^{[15]
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Dean Modah
Queer Linguistics Educator and Cultural Commentator

Expert Interview} While this is a highly feminine-presenting type of lesbian, there is still nuance in how these sapphics express themselves.
- What’s the history? This term was first used in 1982, when journalist Priscilla Rhoades wrote the feature story, “Lesbians for Lipstick.”^{[16]
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  Research source} It has since gained popularity on TikTok and other social media platforms.
- Who’s rocking this aesthetic? Chappell Roan (she/her)