Thanks, gubi gubi, for responding before my head exploded. What Israfel is referring to is transsexuality. If you are a transsexual, you wish to be considered a member of the opposite sex, and may have undergone a sex change. If you are a transvestite, you dress in clothes commonly associated with the opposite gender. If you are a lesbian, you are attracted to the same sex. Lesbians are not transsexuals, because in fact, they do not wish to be men. Biologically female transsexuals who wish to be considered male or feel they are "trapped in a woman's body" are not considered lesbians, because they are most often attracted to the gender opposite the one they consider themselves.
As far as the question at hand goes, I am neither a lesbian nor do I have any close lesbian friends. Therefore, I am highly unqualified to answer. However, if I were to venture a guess from a psychological standpoint and from my research in the gay male community, it would be that the reason some lesbian women are attracted to "butch" women is the same reason why some "straight" women are attracted to effeminate men. They just are. This may be stem from cultural norms or stereotype conformity or a particular social identity. Lesbians are attracted to other women. And women are diverse creatures. Some guys like tomboys and some guys like southern belles. And lesbians show the same diversity in taste. It's just more salient (it sticks out) when it confirms a stereotype. I know previous generations of lesbians conformed much more to "butch" or "femme" roles, but today I think much of that has come out in the wash as gender norms started to relax.
EDIT: Oh, and JunkieJoe, the reason woman prefer girl-girl scenes in porn is because male porn actors are generally so heinous it's not possible to be turned on by them. Although I do believe women have much more fluid sexual identities.
As far as the question at hand goes, I am neither a lesbian nor do I have any close lesbian friends. Therefore, I am highly unqualified to answer. However, if I were to venture a guess from a psychological standpoint and from my research in the gay male community, it would be that the reason some lesbian women are attracted to "butch" women is the same reason why some "straight" women are attracted to effeminate men. They just are. This may be stem from cultural norms or stereotype conformity or a particular social identity. Lesbians are attracted to other women. And women are diverse creatures. Some guys like tomboys and some guys like southern belles. And lesbians show the same diversity in taste. It's just more salient (it sticks out) when it confirms a stereotype. I know previous generations of lesbians conformed much more to "butch" or "femme" roles, but today I think much of that has come out in the wash as gender norms started to relax.
EDIT: Oh, and JunkieJoe, the reason woman prefer girl-girl scenes in porn is because male porn actors are generally so heinous it's not possible to be turned on by them. Although I do believe women have much more fluid sexual identities.