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I am confused at how people describe gender roles and their trope
classification in anime. I understand that traps are characters appearing to
be girls but are actually guys. One of my favorite traps of all time is
Steins;Gate's [Ruka Urushibara](http://steins-
gate.wikia.com/wiki/Ruka_Urushibara).

However, I don't get what "reverse traps" are. Are they appearing to be traps
but are actually legit girls (a trap trap)? Or a character that initially
appears to be a boy, but is actually a girl (a girl trap)? For clarity,
consider what you would call [Charlotte (Charles)
Dunios](http://is.wikia.com/wiki/Charlotte_Dunois) from Infinite Stratos.

![charles](https://i.stack.imgur.com/k8L93.jpg)
![charlotte](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0Frkd.jpg)

**EDIT:** This post is not intended to be offensive to other genders in any
way, the naming convention of "traps" pertain to fictional characters in
anime/manga only.


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tropes terminology
Definition of a reverse trap


A reverse trap, also known as a Bifauxnen (a portmanteau of Bishōnen and faux,
meaning false in French), is simply a girl who resembles a boy. Conversely,
what is commonly referred to as a "trap" by the English speaking audience
simply refers to a boy who has the qualities of a girl, or otherwise known as
a Bishōnen.

Charolotte Dunois would be a reverse trap using these definitions.

Sources:

<http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bifauxnen?from=Main.ReverseTrap>
<http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Bishonen>


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A traditional 'trap' is a boy disguised as a female. Note that this is
**_not_** simply boys who look feminine, but characters who are pretending to
be the opposite sex or who are presumed to be by the narrative of the medium.

**Example 'traditional' trap:**

Maria from Maria✝Holic

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/k2p8cm.jpg)

& Steins;Gate's Ruka Urushibara (as you mentioned earlier)

**Not a trap:** Ryuunosuke Akasaka (The Pet Girl of Sakurasou)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/j1c9tm.png)

A 'reverse trap' is simply the opposite - A female character pretending to be
a male one. This is why Charlotte falls under this category. (Until she is
outed to be a female). Similar to above, characters who are masculine are not
strictly reverse traps.

**Example 'reverse' trap:**

Haruhi Fujioka - Ouran Highschool Host Club

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/lNCsvm.jpg)

**Not a reverse trap:** Yū Kashima from Nozaki-Kun

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/InYwjm.jpg)


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