What Are Stud Lesbians? Meaning, Slang Origin & More

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LGBTQ+ Culture Expert NV Gay explains the difference between studs and butches

Co-authored by NV Gay and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: January 12, 2026 Fact Checked

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Meaning

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Appearance

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Origin

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Stud vs. Butch

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Controversy

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More Lesbian Slang

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There are many different lesbian subtypes, with “stud” being one gaining more visibility in recent years. A stud is a Black masculine-presenting lesbian who embodies masculine qualities. Although they’ve often been conflated with butches, there are distinct differences between the two, which we dive into in this article. We'll also explain what studs are in more detail, how they present, where the term comes from, and more, with insights from LGBTQ+ Culture Expert NV Gay.

What does “stud” mean in LGBTQ+ slang?

LGBTQ+ Culture Expert NV Gay says a “stud” is a masculine presenting Black lesbian. “Stud” is particular to Black lesbians because they coined the term to differentiate themselves from white lesbians and highlight their experiences. Non-Black lesbians calling themselves studs have faced cultural appropriation backlash.

Section 1 of 6:

What is a stud lesbian?

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A stud is a Black, masculine-presenting lesbian.^{[1]
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Expert Source

NV Gay
LGBTQ+ Culture Expert

Expert Interview} The term “stud” is specific to Black lesbians, as they coined it to differentiate their experiences from butches and other white lesbians. Not all Black, masculine-presenting lesbians are studs, but all studs are Black, masculine-presenting lesbians.^{[2]
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Research source} Studs are typically identified by their masculine haircuts and streetwear-inspired outfits.
- Some studs embody traditionally masculine qualities, like strength, assertiveness, confidence, and leadership.
- Studs aren’t all masculine without any feminine energy. They just tend to lean into their masculine side a lot more.
- Studs aren’t to be confused with stems, which are Black lesbians who balance their masculine and feminine energies.
- Some famous studs include Lena Waithe, Jessica Betts, and Brittney Griner.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

NV Gay is an LGBTQIA+ activist and educator based in Columbus, Ohio who focuses on empowering and uplifting marginalized communities. They are also the author of The Queer Allies Bible and host of the Born This Way Podcast.

Section 2 of 6:

How Studs Present Themselves

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Studs tend to wear masculine haircuts and streetwear-oriented outfits. Studs present themselves in all types of ways, but they’re always masculine. So, you’ll typically see studs rocking popular Black masculine haircuts, like a bald fade, locs, or an afro with a fade. They’ve always got the freshest lineup and fade too. When it comes to clothes, they come correct, usually rocking Jordans (1s, 4s, or 11s to be specific), some black or blue jeans, and a flannel or hoodie.
- Sometimes, they’ll combine the hoodie and flannel to elevate their drip even more.
- The “classic stud outfit” typically consists of a tank top or designer sports bra (think Versace) and boxer briefs with jeans. This isn’t worn by all studs, though, so don’t feel pigeonholed if you’re looking for an outfit and don’t care for the classic stud look.

Section 3 of 6:

Where does the term “stud” come from?

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“Stud” originated in the Black LGBTQ+ community in 1965. The first written documentation of the term “stud” being used to describe masculine Black lesbians was in a study published by Ethel Sawyer in 1965. In the study, Cain talked about how masculine Black midwestern lesbians used the term “stud” to describe themselves. The term was created so they could differentiate themselves from butches (white masculine lesbians) and call on their experiences as Black masc lesbians.^{[3]
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- The term, which had been popular in the Black community since the 1950s and 60s, didn’t see widespread popularity until the 2000s and 2010s, when it started to become widely used to describe Black masculine lesbians online.
- Since studs have become popular, the community has started to shift its definition of masculinity to be less aligned with its cishet definition in favor of a new, more personalized form of masculinity, especially on TikTok.
- As studs have become more normalized and accepted, younger studs have had more agency when it comes to being themselves, fostering a loved, confident community of Black masc lesbians.

Section 4 of 6:

What’s the difference between stud and butch?

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Studs are Black, masculine-presenting lesbians, while butches are white, masculine-presenting lesbians. According to Gay, “butch” is a broad term for a masculine presenting lesbian or sapphic.^{[4]
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Expert Source

NV Gay
LGBTQ+ Culture Expert

Expert Interview} Both studs and butches are masculine-presenting, opting for masculine haircuts and clothing. But the key difference here is their races. Studs are Black masculine-presenting lesbians, meaning they present Black-masculinity and identify with Black lesbian experiences. While butches are white, masculine-presenting lesbians, meaning they present white masculinity and identify with the experiences of white lesbians.^{[5]
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- This looks like different haircuts, clothing, and mannerisms. Studs typically rock locs, bald fades, and other Black masculine haircuts, while butches usually rock undercuts and pixie cuts.
- When it comes to clothing, studs often wear jeans and hoodies, while butch lesbians often wear men’s trousers and heavyweight T-shirts. Some of their fashion choices tend to overlap, though, particularly jeans, flannels, and T-shirts.
- Gay says terms like “stud” and “butch” are currently being re-energized. Within the trans community, Gays says one term that’s making a big comeback is “doll," which stems from the underground ballroom days in the 70s and 80s.^{[6]
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  NV Gay
  LGBTQ+ Culture Expert
  
  Expert Interview}

Section 5 of 6:

What’s the controversy surrounding studs?

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In 2020, some white lesbian TikTokers described themselves as studs, which sparked controversy due to the history behind the term. The internet promptly responded, explaining that white lesbians can’t be studs even though they’re masculine, as the term was coined to differentiate Black masc lesbians and white masc lesbians in the first place.^{[7]
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Section 6 of 6:

Other Lesbian Slang Terms

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Also known as a “stem girl,” stems are Black and Latina lesbians who present both masculine and feminine qualities. It is a combination of the terms “stud” and “femme,” representing their fused gender expressions. Their presentation comes in many ways, with some stems wearing masculine outfits and feminine makeup, and other stems having masculine interests with feminine presentation.^{[8]
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In the LGBTQ+ community, “femme” refers to someone who presents themselves in a traditionally feminine way. Not all women are femmes and not all femmes are women, but the term does apply to many lesbians and straight women, as they both have standard markers of femininity, like long hair, skirts, necklaces, earrings, and other accessories.^{[9]
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A high femme is someone who leans into hyper-feminine styles. They typically wear high heels, makeup, and lipstick while going against traditional gender roles or norms. The term can refer to lesbians, gay men, and anyone else who leans into hyper-feminine styles and representation.
“Futch” refers to a lesbian woman who embodies both masculine and feminine traits, falling somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. Some Futches lean more towards masculine, while others lean towards feminine. The term can be used to describe any lesbian woman that lies in the middle of the spectrum (although stem is the preferred term for many Black lesbians that fall into the masculine and feminine categories).