It’s been a long ol time since I’ve known any lesbians well enough to ask such things, but I followed my brain down a weird line of inquiry, and got to wondering about the current state of the art for the gay gals. I guess I had always assumed it was similar to the dynamics of a gay guy relationship, but then I realized that since men have both an input and an output, they can choose, but it’s mechanically a bit different for cis women. Is there any relationship between that, and the slightly more masculine versus feminine flavors? Asking for a friend, who is me. I want to know. Thanks.

  • growsomethinggood ()@reddthat.com
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    3 hours ago

    Hi! Not strictly a lesbian here but in a lesbian relationship. Yes, lesbians have top/bottom dynamics typically in the “one doing the action” vs the “one being acted upon” across various different acts. Most switch it up (“vers”), rather than identifying primarily as tops or bottoms. If you are strictly a top or strictly a bottom, you’re described as “stone” as in “stone top” or “stone bottom”.

    Very important that these are completely different roles than dominant/submissive/switch, which are BDSM terms and describe a more psychological aspect of a relationship than the more physical top/bottom/vers.

  • Björn Tantau@swg-empire.de
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    3 hours ago

    A lesbian couple on Twitch got asked who the top and who the bottom was. They said they switched.

    No idea what that means mechanically.

  • Vibi@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 hours ago

    You’ll find that in queer culture, there’s not just top/bottom but a wide spectrum to define or describe preferences; I’m sure this all also applies to the BDSM world as well. There’s a variety of tops and bottoms and preferences like Bambi lesbians who don’t want sexual dynamics beyond cuddling and kissing.

  • 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    3 hours ago

    You might want to differentiate between Top, Bottom, Switch and Top, Bottom, Versatile, i.e. BDSM vs penetration positions.

    I’d also say that this is less about physiology and more about the individual acceptance of the concept of position.

    Top, Bottom, Versatile is not necessarily a queer thing, since (cis&trans) heterosex can have positions as well. That is to say, not all queer relationships regardless of gender follow the concept of position.

  • AlternateRoute@lemmy.ca
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    3 hours ago

    If you do a little googling it is easy to confirm but there is the sexual definition like you where referring to and then there is just the more general relationship definition which is basically the Top is the more dominate / assertive partner and the bottom is the more passive partner.

  • Alk@sh.itjust.works
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    3 hours ago

    I’ve seen people (lesbians) talk about it, so I’m leaning toward “yes they can but not always”, but I cannot give an authoritative answer as I am not a lesbian.

  • eestileib@sh.itjust.works
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    3 hours ago

    I think in the second half you’re asking whether butches are more likely to be toppy and femmes are more likely to be bottomy.

    I think there’s probably some positive correlation there but butchness and toppiness are distinct concepts.

  • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
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    3 hours ago

    I don’t think there’s any group that doesn’t have some members who like domination. But I’m just speculating and am not an expert.