Line #41 Main/BifauxnenAndLadette


1	[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/DearBrother https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_oniisama_e.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Hana no St. Juste[[note]]"St. Juste of the Flowers"[[/note]] and Kaoru no Kimi[[note]]"Prince Kaoru"[[/note]]--even their nicknames say it!]]
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4	This is mainly a {{Japanese Media Trope\|s}} but does occur occasionally in other media. Two girls have largely different personalities that both lie on the traditional masculine spectrum.
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6	This has a tendency to happen in an ImprobablyFemaleCast where varying male personalities are limited and in {{Yuri\|Genre}} to give the lesbians and the audience one more androgynous girl to [[FanService drool over]]. This usually takes the form of one girl being a [[TheLadette lad-ette]] personality-wise and the other girl will be a more [[CulturedBadass refined]] PrinceCharming complete with a BishieSparkle. Other variations exist as well, such as the likelihood that one may be more [[LesbianJock athletic]] while the other one is a BadassBookworm.
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8	As with any [[DuoTropes two-character trope]], the two characters have to have some sort of relationship with each other, be it friends, family, love interests, or rivals for a love interest, so the two characters can be [[{{Foil}} playing the traits directly off each other]]. Expect a PseudoRomanticFriendship if it's a {{Yuri\|Genre}}. Expect an OddFriendship regardless. Sometimes the girls will not get along and there will be moments of rivalry or even BelligerentSexualTension [[SlapSlapKiss between the two]].
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10	Compare the Bifauxnen to the admirable one and the Lad-ette to the mannish one in FourGirlEnsemble and compare both to the tomboy in TomboyAndGirlyGirl.
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12	Contrast the polar opposites, LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine -- two girls who are both ''feminine'', but in different ways -- and NobleMaleRoguishMale -- two ''guys'' who are both masculine, but in different ways.
13	----
14	!!Examples:
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17	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
18	* In ''Manga/AiOreLoveMe'', considering almost all of the members of the band Blaue Rosen are girls that fit either the Bifauxnen or Ladette aesthetic or both, this trope is a given.
19	* Sylia Stingray and Priss Asagiri in the ''Anime/BubblegumCrisis'' OVA. They're more of a TomboyAndGirlyGirl deal in ''Tokyo 2040'', however.
20	* Pictured above: Kaoru Orihara (brunette, on the right) and Rei Asaka (blonde, on the left) in ''Manga/DearBrother'', arguably the archetypal examples. Rei is a [[TheStoic stoic]] [[BrokenBird depressed]] loner that sometimes [[ViewerGenderConfusion gets mistaken for a man]] and talented basketball player and artist; Kaoru is an extremely androgynous {{Ladette}} that is just as good in basketball as Rei is, not to mention she's arguably [[OnlySaneMan the only sane person in the story]]. While they are both athletes, Kaoru takes basketball much more seriously than Rei, who is too doped up to care much about anything, [[spoiler: though when she ''does'' play, it seems to be the only healthy source of enjoyment she has. Coincidentally, that happens when Kaoru is having a relapse in her illness and Rei takes her place to help the team.]] Also alluded to in their "titles". Rei is called "Hana no St. Juste" which means "St. Juste of the Flowers", while Kaoru is called "Kaoru no Kimi" aka "Prince Kaoru".
21	* ''Manga/HandsomeGirlAndShelteredGirl'' features (as the name implies) a {{Bifauxnen}} and a GirlyGirl (who thinks the first is a guy for quite some time but stays with her after finding out). They get a RelationshipUpgrade later where the "sheltered" girl turns out to be ''much'' more assertive [[InVinoVeritas when drunk]], fitting TheLadette part more.
22	* In ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'', [[BadassInANiceSuit Integra Hellsing]], [[AxCrazy Rip Van Winkle]] and [[ButchLesbian Zorin Blitz]] are all masculine women with distinct and opposing personalities.
23	%%* Rei and Sei from ''Literature/MariaWatchesOverUs''. Even their names fit the trope!
24	* In ''Manga/MonthlyGirlsNozakiKun'', we have Yu Kashima as the PrinceCharming {{Bifauxnen}} and her "singing coach" Yuzuki Seo as the foul-mouthed and abrasive ladette. As Seo does not actually ''look'' masculine, they were once [[MistakenForRomance mistaken as a couple]] when seen hanging out together by Wakamatsu who [[LadyLooksLikeADude assumed that Kashima was a boy.]]
25	* ''VideoGame/PriPara'': [[PrinceCharming Hibiki]] plays the {{Bifauxnen}} of this dynamic with both [[ActionGirl Shion]] and [[{{Bokukko}} Dorothy]].
26	* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Sayaka and Kyouko. Additionally, the two clash a lot and have a BelligerentSexualTension due to their rivalry and opposing ideals (idealism versus cynicism, also respectively). Sayaka is the more androgynous among the Puellas and she displays typically tomboy traits such as being into sports, wearing her hair short, and not fearing getting physical to protect her friends (mostly Madoka). Moreover, she is very chivalrous and justice-oriented. If that's not enough to qualify as a (downplayed) {{Bifauxnen}}, remember her Puella Magi suit is modeled after a KnightInShiningArmor with a cape and swords. Kyouko, on her part, is a very outspoken, roguish, and cynical girl that lives in the streets. She even has a sadistic streak and her pattern of speech reflects her aggressivity and brashness. Her Puella Magi suit, in turn, has her wielding a fragmentable spear connected by chains. And she also loves eating. All in all, she's a {{Ladette}}.
27	* In ''Franchise/SailorMoon'', Haruka Tenoh and her rival Seiya Kou play the trope straight in the [[Manga/SailorMoon manga]] but only plays with it in the [[Anime/SailorMoon first anime]] considering that Seiya is a GenderBender in it. (So she only played it straight in her Sailor Starfighter identity, which is the original one.)
28	[[/folder]]
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30	[[folder:Comic Books]]
31	* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': [[ComicBook/WonderGirl Cassie]] is a teen with BoyishShortHair and a spunky attitude who wears loose baggy clothes and is easily mistaken for a boy while fitting the visuals of an attractive teen boy for her time period, while her best friend George is more intentionally androgynous and has a more delicate and traditionally attractive appearance.
32	* ''ComicBook/XWingRogueSquadron'': Plourr Ilo is the gleeful, bloodthirsty BoisterousBruiser who loves to tease her friends and tends to take charge; she's also secretly a princess. Xarcce Huwla is soft-spoken, cultured, possesses an understated sense of humor, and is restrained. They're both big and muscular and proud of their fighting skills, and Xarcce's species has [[ViewerGenderConfusion little sexual dimorphism]], and they both play TheBigGuy at need. The two are shown having a friendly sparring match, with padding, and then go drinking together.
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35	[[folder:Literature]]
36	* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath'': Jame (the protagonist) and Brier Iron-thorn (her NumberTwo). Both are androgynous badasses, but they're still quite different from each other. Brier is {{the Stoic}}, very military and highly disciplined, and Jame is… kind of a loose cannon and a WalkingDisasterArea AntiHero. They have a RedOniBlueOni thing going on, and stern Brier is {{the Conscience}} to Jame. Physically they contrast too, though both are Bifauxnens. Brier is tall and sturdy, with BoyishShortHair, and Jame very skinny and waif-like, with long hair.
37	%%* From ''Literature/{{Kurenai}}'', Yayoi as the bifauxnen, Lin as the Ladette.
38	* In ''Literature/StrawberryPanic'' [[PrinceCharming Amane Ohtori]] plays this role opposite [[PsychoLesbian Kaname Kenjo]].
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41	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
42	* A western lesbian example can be in ''Series/TheLWord'':
43	** Shane and Carmen: Shane is a famously androgynous-looking alpha-lesbian. As a young abandoned orphan, she used to make a living as a prostitute, working with ''gay, male clients''. Personality-wise, she can be seen as a gay female take on TheCasanova. She is very charming and suave. Her girlfriend, and later fiance Carmen, is a tomboyish HardDrinkingPartyGirl of the SpicyLatina variation, who works as a DJ. She is blunt and very energetic. They make somewhat of a RedOniBlueOni pairing.
44	** The show also features a non-romantic example: Tasha -- TheSquadette, who gets very Biaxfunen in her National Guard uniform -- and her BFF, Papi -- TheLadette. Personality-wise, this pairing plays this trope pretty straight. Tasha is very quiet and has surprisingly traditional values -- which are often lampshaded. She enjoys treating her love interests like an old-fashioned male suitor would. Papi, another SpicyLatina, is a total player, and a very clear example of TheLadette. She plays high-stakes poker and basketball, drinks a lot, and even outshines Shane in the field of random hookups.
45	* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Jadzia Dax is a cool, suave, worldly, AcePilot with several lifetimes of experience behind her. Kira is a grizzled ex-resistance fighter wrestling with her home planet's tragic past and uncertain future. There's no tension between them, sexual or otherwise, just friendship and advice.
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48	[[folder:Video Games]]
49	* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'': Sera and any androgynous-appearing female Inquisitors from Sera is crude and boyish, telling her friends rude stories and reveling in playing pranks, while the Inquisitor can be much more reserved and severe. Even if they're dating each other (which may prompt the Inquisitor to get involved in Sera's antics), the Inquisitor's dialogue generally has her be a lot more level-headed and polite.
50	* Paragon [=Femshep=] from ''Franchise/MassEffect'' has this dynamic with Jack. Paragon Shepard is composed and diplomatic. Jack is violent and snide.
51	* In ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'', Blanche of Team Mystic is a woman who dresses well in an androgynous fashion (along with [[TomboyishPonytail her ponytail]]), and [[TheSpock acts in a more analytical tone]]. Candela of Team Valor has [[BoyishShortHair shorter hair]] and lean body with ample bust, and relies on strength, but is [[CutenessProximity easily enamored by the small, cute Pokémon]].
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54	[[folder:Western Animation]]
55	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'':
56	** The core Crystal Gems exhibit a three-person version of this dynamic. Amethyst is the Ladette, being a crude and playful tomboyish "rebellious teenager" type (despite being thousands of years old), whereas Garnet and Pearl exhibit the Bifauxnen aspect in different ways, with Garnet expressing the mature and composed TeamDad-style leader side, while Pearl is a tender TeamMom who exhibits the traditional elegant "otokoyaku" aesthetic.
57	** Of the first three Homeworld Gems shown, Jasper and Peridot likewise contrast from the very feminine Lapis Lazuli in different ways. Jasper is an enormous, muscular, hyper-aggressive BloodKnight. Peridot is small, technology-inclined, and tries to handle things analytically. Both wear jumpsuits, in contrast to Lapis' dress.
58	[[/folder]]

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