Panel 1
(Our main character, Max, standing and talking to the audience while a man shouts from the background)
Max: Being a butch woman around men occasionally has some issues.
Man: You’re basically a guy, right!?
Max: I hear some ignorant stuff based purely on my gender expression.
Panel 2
(Max and man, man elbowing Max as we see a lady walk in the background)
Text: While this isn’t always meant in a mean way, much of it is based on gender stereotypes and how I should and shouldn’t act as a person with a masculine of center appearance.
Man: Hot piece right there, right Max?
Panel 3
(A long panel, with Max holding up three things, a flipper, a football, and a wrench)
Max: For instance, the assumption that I like BBQ (I’m vegan) and sports (Please don’t make me throw this football), and other “manly” pursuits (Which tool is this?)
Panel 4
Max: And while I do like some of those things, it’s not because I’m butch, it’s ’cause I’m an individual.
Panel 5
Text: The idea that I’d like those things because the way I look and dress are based on patriarchal views of what it means to be a man and the false idea I’m trying to imitate manhood.
Panel 6
(Three guys talking)
Text: The flip side of this is that people assume I don’t like things that might be considered “feminine”
Guy One: You paint your nails?
Guy Two: You bought ballet tickets?
Guy Three: You cried at the wedding!
Panel 7
(Images of a variety of people who may identify as butch, including folks with long hair, non-binary, genderqueer, trans men, and trans women)
Text: People who identify as butch are a wide-ranging bunch and all over the gender spectrum. The key is to realize that butch means different things to different people and you can’t assume things about our personality solely based on our appearances.
Panel 8
(Man and Max watching a women walk by, the man yelling at her)
Text: Another aspect of being around cisgender men…
Man: Hey, you want some fries with that shake! See her, Max?
Max: …Is that men assume I want to oogle at women with them.
Panel 9
Man: Someone who likes chicks as much as I do and has boobs? Seems perfect. It’s like hanging with a girl and a guy at the same time
Max: You’re making this real hard for me, buddy.
Panel 10
Max: I don’t want to catcall women with you! I don’t think it’s cool you pinched the waitress’ ass! I don’t want to comment on a woman’s appearance as she walks by!
Panel 11
(Max directly talking to the man)
Max:Please don’t hang out with me if you’re just going to insult women and not treat all genders with respect.
Panel 12
Man: But Why? You’re practically a man! And I’m basically a lesbian! haw haw!
Max: Wrong again dudefriend.
Panel 13
Max: This is how I express my gender identity. I dress to feel myself. I still identify-personally-as a woman. The only way I’d be a man is if I say so, you don’t get to assign me a gender without my permission.
Panel 14
Max: And you’re not “basically a lesbian.” You are a cisgender straight man. Please don’t patronize me by flaunting your privilege.
Panel 15
Max:…and you know what is the sad thing about all of this?
Panel 16
(Max hanging with some friends drinking beer, watching a women walk by)
Text: Sometimes I feel like I have to emulate this behavior with men to create a sense of camaraderie or friendship or to feel like I belong.Or to just feel comfortable.
Man: I’d give her a 7 out of 10.
Max: Uhh….8.5
Girl: gross!!
Panel 17
(Max and two other butch identified people playing pool)
Text: And at times, this happens with other butches as well…
Butch: My girl was so late today! I was like, “Babe! Seriously?”
Other Butch: High maintenance femmes, ammiright!
Panel 18
Max: But when I do this, I feel like a traitor. And it sucks.
Panel 19
(Max talking to a male friend)
Text: Wouldn’t it be better to call each other out on our misogynistic behavior?
Man: That bar is always full of drunk chicks,you’d like it! Let’s meet there before the game
Max: Um… I don’t really think saying things like that is okay. It’s offensive, sexist, and makes me uncomfortable.
Panel 20
Max: I know you think it’s okay to display behavior like that because you think I’ll play along, but chauvinistic comments do bother me, so don’t direct them my way thinking I’ll let them slide just because I’m butch.
Panel 21
Text: And begin enjoying each others company as people.
Man: Oh wow, I’m so sorry.
Max: It’s okay. My girlfriend is a bigger sports fan than me, let’s just meet at our place.
