Trigger Warning
This article mentions reclaimed slurs and genitalia; if you are not comfortable with reading about this kind of topic then it is suggested you avoid this article.
D*ke, also known as Dike, Bulld*ke, or similar to such, is a slur commonly used against masculine-presenting women/butch lesbians. However, it is not exclusive to lesbians. D*ke is not excusive to binary women and lesbians, m-spec women can use it too, and so can non-binary people.
Etymology
The origin of the slur "d*ke" is unknown, however there are possible theories on where it originated:
- A shortened version of the slur "h*rmaphrodite."
- Boudicca (Bou-dyke-ah), a Celtic queen who organized a revolt against the Roman Empire in 67 AD.
- The slang term "get diked out" meaning "dress up".
- In the 19th century, "dike" was a slang term for the vulva.
- From the terms "bulldicker" or "bulldick", meaning "fake penis" or "fake man", describing the idea of "a woman with a clitoris extended enough to serve as a penis in lesbian relationships".
Flags
The dyke pride flag was created in February 2020 by a tumblr user named Jace. Black represents "power, strength, and freedom that comes with reclaiming d*ke", and "any and all black wlw and black nonbinary sapphics who identify as d*ke, as they have always been the backbone of this community." Purple stands for the reclaimation of d*ke. Magenta represents unapologetic love of women. Pink stands for acceptance of trans women and inner peace. The white labrys axe represents "empowerment, justice, and intolerance of bigotry".
The d*kef*g/f*gd*ke flag was created by tumblr user sothisian on December 6th of 2020. It has no confirmed meaning. A five-striped version of sothisian's flag was created by FANDOM user Uncertified Funny on May 24th, 2021.
References
https://nonbinary.wiki/wiki/Dyke
https://lgbtqiarchive.tumblr.com/post/637653259594678272/dykefag-fagdyke-flag