This work focuses on perceptions of butch
privilege in the undergraduate student body at
Georgia State University. Butch privilege is similar
to traditional definitions of privilege, whether
male, white or heterosexual. I define it as the
unearned and unacknowledged privilege experienced by
a butch lesbian (perceived or self-identified) due
to her occupation of masculinity. In order to
investigate this topic, an exploratory quantitative
analysis of how perceptions of masculinity and
status are associated with butch privilege was
conducted. A survey consisting of questions
regarding participants perceptions of how
differential privileges are extended to masculine
and feminine looking women were presented to
undergraduate students during introductory sociology
classes. I found that the privileges traditionally
reserved for white males in society are perceived to
be extended to white butch lesbians due to their
occupation of masculinity.
privilege in the undergraduate student body at
Georgia State University. Butch privilege is similar
to traditional definitions of privilege, whether
male, white or heterosexual. I define it as the
unearned and unacknowledged privilege experienced by
a butch lesbian (perceived or self-identified) due
to her occupation of masculinity. In order to
investigate this topic, an exploratory quantitative
analysis of how perceptions of masculinity and
status are associated with butch privilege was
conducted. A survey consisting of questions
regarding participants perceptions of how
differential privileges are extended to masculine
and feminine looking women were presented to
undergraduate students during introductory sociology
classes. I found that the privileges traditionally
reserved for white males in society are perceived to
be extended to white butch lesbians due to their
occupation of masculinity.