Rebecca Ann Rugg

One of my favorite pieces of non-fiction writing is the essay "How Does She Look?" by Rebecca Ann Rugg, which appears in the anthology Femme: Feminists, Lesbians, and Bad Girls. I've been rereading this essay and other parts of the book at least once a year for the past five years. It's fantastic. The essay delves into the issue of femme lesbian visibility and the various techniques/cues (and their many implications) which are used to develop a gender/presentation that is more readably queer.

In the essay, Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver of Split Britches, who Scott Turner Schofield brought up in class, are discussed. Teresa de Lauretis is mentioned. Even the book "How Do I Look?" (referenced in the Judith Butler interview) is used as a text. Who knew that ten years ago Rebecca Ann Rugg would write this essay that would have so many connections with our class?

Other excellent pieces, among many, from Femme include:
“Passing Loqueria” by Gaby Sandoval
“Mysteries, Mothers, and Cops: An Interview with Mabel Maney”
“Forever Femme” by Madeline Davis

Femme: Feminists, Lesbians & Bad Girls
Edited by Laura Harris and Elizabeth Crocker
Routledge, 1997.


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If I can get one person to read this book, I'll feel like I've accomplished something with my life.