Few things in life are black and white (except for perhaps badgers and zebra), and so too there are spectrums across sexuality, gender, and the presentation thereof. In lesbian culture, while it is a somewhat flattened version of reality (as all categorizations inevitably are), it has become popular in the last few years for people to rate themselves (or fictional characters, and even objects) on the futch scale, with futch lesbians at the center.
But what is the futch scale? What is the meaning of “futch”? Is there a way for us to visualize these concepts? Well, those are the questions we’re here to answer! So let us slake your thrist for knowledge as we discuss the futch scale.
What Does Futch Mean?
“Futch” is, essentially, the middle ground between the “femme” (or feminine presenting) and “butch” (or masculine presenting) vibes of queer women. Lesbians who present simultaneously or who blend different facets of both might be considered futch.
We could use characters from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (one of the best animated shows of the last decade) as examples. Adora has a femme aesthetic with butch protective instincts, where Scorpia has a butch aesthetic with femme attractions to the softer things in life. Catra, conversely, might be considered “futch” for being true neutral: vulnerable yet confident, with a feminine look combined with a preference for masc clothing.
Futch vs. Androgynous
Though some futch lesbians might be androgynous, not all androgynous people are futch. As a basic example, men can be androgynous, yet they cannot be futch (at least, not in real life) as they are not lesbians (with the exception of lesbian trans men).
Futch vs. Stud and Butch
As a very brief summary, here are some quick differences between futch, butch, and stud lesbians.
- Futch Lesbian: A lesbian whose presentation is a fusion or mixture of femme and butch aesthetics and behaviours/
- Butch Lesbian: A lesbian who presents and acts in a masc fashion, more typically in a more “manly” sense, rather than, for example, just wearing a tuxedo (though butch lesbians can, of course, be dashing in a tux).
- Stud Lesbian: A category of butch lesbian used exclusively for black lesbians, or lesbians of African mixed-race heritage.
@cucumberfrogsocool who that in the baaaaack 🎤(*ˊᗜˋ*) #yunjin #lesserafim #yves #loona #futch #minji #newjeans #kpop #winter #aespa ♬ original sound – BKGCLIPS
The Futch Scale
In the age of the meme, some lesbians took to the internet to create a “scale,” known as the futch scale, to loosely show the range between “high femme” and “stone butch” on either end, with “futch” in the middle, and the continuum between them.
To illustrate this, many on the internet took to using various different topics to explain the concept to those who might be unfamiliar, including fish Pokemon, classical composers, and weaponry.
To demonstrate what the futch scale looks like, and help you, dear reader, to familiarize yourself with it in the event it is your first time coming across the topic, we have chosen to use soft drinks. So, here is our futch scale based on safe-for-Sober October tipples, with a brief explanation of each, starting from high femme to stone butch.
High femme: Earl Grey tea
Classy and delicate, both in flavor and in the means of drinking from bone china. The name alone whispers elegance, and with a splash of milk, it becomes even smoother and silkier in texture and flavor.
Femme: Fanta Lemon
Crisp, yet definitely sweet and energetic. Its bright color lets it shine and set itself apart from other Fanta flavors. Relatively high in vitamin C, Japan even had a version with added citric acid to put some more pep in your step.
Butchy femme: Dr. Pepper
As caffeine heavy and dark as a regular cola, but with a more fruity taste and something of an underdog spirit. Sweet, sparky, and unique, a favorite for many.
Futch: Coca-Cola Zero
Combines the darkness and caffeine of regular Coke with a sugar-free kick while still being sweet. Far from “basic,” and with its own unique identity, this sits firmly in the middle of tastes.
Soft butch: Green tea
Still high in caffeine, but not quite as much as some other drinks, but with a touch of bitterness, rather than the usual sweetness one might expect from a soda. Nevertheless, green tea has a touch of femme-delicacy to it that puts it in the soft butch space.
Butch: Black coffee
Now we’re talking real masc drinks. Black coffee is the darkest of the dark, and with a high caffeine content to keep you wide awake and pumped up. Adding sugar might make it a little sweeter, but real heads know that for a really manly drink, you wanna take it neat.
Stone butch: Non-alcoholic beer
This is the butchest of the soft drinks. Extremely masc in form and flavor, while letting you keep a cool head as you drink it. Shows a tough side while also being enjoyable in almost all situations.
Futch Celebrities and Icons
While futch lesbians might seem a little specific, there are more of them than you might think. Here are just a few!
Hayley Kiyoko
Actress and singer Hayley Kiyoko has the distinct honor of being described by her fans as “Lesbian Jesus”. Claims to her divinity aside (though not refuted), her boyish tracksuit and baggy fashion sense paired with her femme-coded statement jewelry have made her a futch icon.
Brandi Carlile
Alt-country, Americana, and folk rock singer Carlile has made a name for herself among sapphic spaces as a futch figure. She wears masc suits that are nevertheless in fem colors, and seamlessly switches between feminine bows and masculine ties without any of her vibe changing. Quintessential.
Tegan and Sara
Twin sisters from Canada, the singers have developed a strong reputation not only for their musical prowess (including, but not limited to, being the main artists on Everything is Awesome, the theme of The Lego Movie) but for being LGBTQ+ activists. Their style is almost unisex, with colorful clothes of an understated masc-presenting cut.
Futch lesbians represent a number of queer women’s identity, both in aesthetic and presentation. The futch scale, though reductive, is a fun way for people to examine and explore their identities. Futch lesbians — like all lesbians — are an indispensable part of the LGBTQ+ community.
