Femininity
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Femininity comprises the physical and mental attributes associated with the female sex and is partly culturally determined. Some of these attributes can be traced to the female reproductive role. Others are rooted in the socialization of a girl's early development and adjusted throughout adulthood by picking up or reacting to societal cues. Feminine characteristics are sometimes expressed through female gender roles, which can vary between different societies and eras.
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[edit] Feminine attributes
Traits that are considered feminine can be categorized into the physical (such as breasts, wider hips in relation to body size, softer facial features without facial hair, etc.) and the psychological, manifested in such things as a concern for relationships (sympathy, sensitivity, high language skills, receptivity) aesthetics (decoration and ornamentation of home and person).
Distinctly feminine attributes are hard to pin down, as are the masculine, because each attribute can be manifested in either sex. The attempt to categorize traits into strict categories of masculine and feminine has been the subject of philosophy, sociology, psychology and science for centuries, and is unlikely to be resolved satisfactorily as there are diverse views, clues, and subsequent conclusions about the matter.
[edit] Femininity in the media
The notion of feminine beauty constantly changes, and ranges the spectrum between the ultra-feminine Gibson Girl of the 1910s to the tomboyish flapper of the 1920s. Many women take their cues from film, television, or women's magazines. Most glossy periodicals usually feature a glamorous covergirl whose clothing, makeup and lifestyle sometimes represent the current state-of-the-art in beauty. Some radical feminists see the (sometimes airbrushed) standards of beauty presented in women's interest magazines as examples of sexual objectification. They may view these depicted standards as impossible for most women to actually meet, and these feminists criticize women's slavish devotion to meeting these standards as evidence of patriarchal oppression. Many have criticized the fashion and entertainment industries for promoting extremely thin and unhealthy body ideals. There are also many that disagree with this viewpoint, due to the fact in an age when women hold significant sway in the fashion community, aesthetic virtue and competing for attention are still positivly connotated. They further argue that since women are the ones that are instinctually craving these beauty products, women are therefore the ones driving this yearn towards physical perfection, and not a patriarchal oppression conspiracy.
Strong feminists such as Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath were very popular in the 1950s to 1960s. Their poems were very controversial as their poems took on strong themes such as appearance, body issues and menstruation.
Recently, the video of a VMI cheerleader placing a Citadel cadet in a headlock has caused a redefinition of femininity, as her action showed that a woman could essentially take on a symbol of masculinity, the military man, and win.[1]
[edit] Femininity in men
Femininity in men, as masculinity in women, is often considered to be negative due to its contradiction of traditional roles. However, this will vary by location and culture. Certain traits and behaviors, such as interest in fashion and grooming, may be seen by some as feminine. The common stereotype of homosexual men is that they are effeminate, with perhaps even exaggerated feminine traits. While this is true of many homosexual men, there are many others who do not fit this description; gay men range from very feminine to very masculine. The effeminate gay man has gained wider acceptance in society, but there is some stigma, especially in certain populations or locations.(citation needed) Even in the gay community there are many who do not tolerate effeminate gay men, and believe that they are affected and represent the gay community in a negative way.
In circumstances such as prison where men are segregated from women, a fraction of the population will nevertheless divide according to persistent female principles, either voluntarily or through coercion. (citation needed) An effeminate man exhibits what Carl Jung called the anima, the subconscious feminine psychological factors within all males. However, feminine traits that society finds admirable or at least views as neutral in women (such as "womanish tears") have traditionally been viewed more negatively when expressed by men.
[edit] Other meanings
The word feminine can also refer to:
- The property of being biologically female
- A traditionally female gender role
- The feminine grammatical gender
- The antonym of masculinity
- A characteristic most common in females women
[edit] Icons and symbols of femininity
- Marilyn Monroe - for sex appeal
- Mother
- Lady - a (refined) woman of high social status
- Nurse
- Songbird
- Venus figurine
- Vixen
- Grace Kelly, the late Princess of Monaco and American Film Actress - for grace, style, beauty, and sophistication
