femme

n.) A gender identity in which someone (female, male or other) has an awareness of cultural standards of femininity and actively embodies a feminine appearance, role, or archetype. It is usually--but not always--associated with a gay or queer sexual identity/sexuality. It is usually more accentuated and intentional than a straight female gender identity or gender presentation and often challenges standards of femininity through exaggeration, parody or transgression of gender norms.

n.) A person (male, female or other) who identifies and/or presents a femme gender identity.

v.) To actively embody a femme identity or gender presentation.

adj.) intentionally, cleverly feminine. Feminine in a non-traditional way--or referring to something/one male (or non-female) that/whom is related to or embodies a conscious femininity.

n.) think: that hot girl with long hair who loves dresses but wears combat boots and dates women or men who look like women.

v.) think: drag performances by gay men dressed as women. OR a woman dolling herself up for a hot date--lipstick, heels and all--getting ready to go out with her girlfriend who doesn't really care if she dresses up, but who will be the subject of jealous glances all night because of it.

(colloquialism: femme it up!-- def.) make it more outrageously girly/ a more outrageous parody of culturally prescribed femininity)

adj.) think: that cute gayboy who wears a sparkly Princess tee-shirt that is two sizes too small, but he can rock it anyway. (OMG that shirt is soo femme!) OR that punk chick who may be wearing an outfit entirely from the little boy's section of Marshalls, but who looks more girly in a kid size 10 tee-shirt, ripped jeans and chucks than some women manage to do in their skirts and heels. (she's sure made that one femmed out tee-shirt, it just looks so different than on my nine year old nephew.)

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