#non-femininity

I feel like "hard femme" is an escape from problems of sexism in traditional femininity.

I certainly don't claim to understand "hard femme"=.  I've been trying to, and sometimes i think i do, but more often i feel like i don't.  I also don't identify with it (except for maybe the "go fuck yourself" attitude), so i can only offer an outsider's perspective.

Many people i've heard from say "hard femme" cannot be described, but also that it's similar but different from femme, which may be similar to femininity.  Hmm.

So since i can't get a clear assessment from someone else, i'll give my own.

From what i've seen, hard femme pictures tend to have elements of traditional white-femininity like long hair, body-clinging clothes that emphasize narrow shoulders and wide hips, make-up, showy jewelry, and nail polish, balanced with traditionally non white-feminine traits such as black and bold colors, spikes, punk-inspired hair cuts, body types other than thin and hourglass, and frequent non-whitewashed models of color.  Attitudes associated with hard femme tend to be self reliability, toughness, give-no-fucks attitude while simultaneously enjoying american female culture like fashion and painting your nails.

Whether hard femmes believe the "hard" aspects should or should not be included in modern femininity, the implication is clear -- these aspects are not considered traditionally feminine to them, which provokes these subjects to transcend the label femme, instead of the other options of working to change "femme" or abandoning the constricting femme-butch dichotomy altogether.

On top of that, there are people who argue that femme and traditional femininity aren't linked, making things even more confusing.

My general impression of the average person who supports femme and hard femme cultures is a person who does not see sexism in traditional femininity.  That femme and femme subcultures are purely neutral cultures, and that patriarchy only has a hand in contexts outside these cultures, or only in actions towards women, but never in actions within female communities.  Which is, i think, why i have trouble liking these communities, and why i constantly feel slightly offended whenever i browse a hard femme themed tumblog.

That said, i do believe "hard femme" has some merit, as it seems to be a very positive and optimistic culture.  In this culture, no one wears makeup or dresses up to please others.   Anyone [within the queer community] can claim the label, even males.  I would like to see it move away from gender contexts, but if that were to happen, you'd effectively be entering punk culture.  Which makes me wonder if hard femme isn't just a middle ground for those who want the autonomy and mainstream-rejection of punk but still fit in with gender structures.

I don't see enough critical analysis and discussion of gender labels and cultures, so if anyone wants to pipe up, please do.