What is Femininity?

  
      What is femininity? Isn't it just a social construct? 

        The most concrete answers can be found with a quick google search. According to Wikipedia "Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women and girls." and begins to explain how femininity is a socially constructed idea, though it is difficult to say if it is socially or biologically influenced. The qualities one finds feminine can depend very much on the upbringing, class, ethnicity, race, or society the individual is influenced by or identifies with. Looking up the synonyms for femininity you find words and phrases such as womanliness, womanhood, feminineness, womanly qualities, and feminine qualities. As you can see femininity, as well as the contrasting masculinity, is highly concerned with gender roles. 

 

Feminine Qualities

        Because most of my experiences have taken place in the United States and Western culture and I do not know what other cultures' relationship to femininity, I will be strictly analyzing Western ideas and practices around femininity. 

        Qualities and things which are considered feminine are anything that is traditionally considered exclusively for or pertaining women. Of course, men can be feminine too, and this is increasingly being acknowledged more and more by our society. Women can also be masculine. Though, this is the case, I definition and history of femininity is very gender focused. 

        Qualities which are considered feminine in the West and other countries are as follows: vulnerability, empathy, thoughtfulness, beauty, intuition, patience, sensuality, and radiance.

        Hobbies such as: cooking, ballroom dancing, shopping, singing, jewelry making, sewing, painting, knitting, gardening, volunteering, writing, flower arranging, aromatherapy, and drawing are feminine. 

        Items and clothing items can be considered feminine too, the most obvious items being dresses and skirts. Even colors, like pink, purple, and pastels are things which today are considered to be highly feminine. 

I am confident that you understand what I am saying, but here's a list of more feminine things, just for fun. 

-flowers

-shaving

-jewelry

-painted nails

-soaps

-Disney movies

-romance 

-musical theatre 

-music

-make-up  

-long hair 

-scanted candles

-being the little spoon when cuddling 

-facial products

-puppies

-kittens

-babies and little children

-Pinterest

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