Stone Butch Blues is a novel written by transgender activist Leslie Feinberg. Jess Goldberg, the main character, is aware from a young age that she is different from other girls. She hates wearing dresses, and often received the question - "Are you a boy or a girl?" - from strangers. Throughout her life Jess is plagued with the feeling of not fitting in. Even when she is allowed to dress in men's clothing, the rules about how to be a butch don't always fit. Jess hides underneath a "stone butch" persona, which does not really protect her from trauma and often distances her from intimacy.