Everything about Femininity totally explained
Femininity (also called
womanliness) refers to qualities and behaviors judged by a particular culture to be ideally associated with or especially appropriate to
women and
girls. Distinct from
femaleness, which is a biological and physiological classification concerned with the
reproductive system, femininity principally refers to
secondary sex characteristics and other behaviors and features generally regarded as being more prevalent and better suited to women, whether inborn or
socialized. In traditional
Western culture, such features include
gentleness,
patience and
kindness.
Feminine attributes
The feminine is most often associated with nurturing, life-giving qualities, creativity and an openness to those around. The modern social stereotype of a woman is the complete opposite to a man. A feminine woman has physical attributes which vary from that of a typical male. Furthermore, the psychological and behavioral differences that are considered feminine are the opposite of those associated with masculinity. These attributes result from the relationship between an individual's biology and the socialization they receive as a result of that biology.
Feminine physical attributes
Some research has indicated that a number of heterosexual men may be aroused by child-like smooth skin, big eyes, small noses and chins, though there are cultural differences in those preferences. Some research has also indicated that a 0.7
waist-hip ratio arouses some heterosexual men. These studies have led the media to speculate that these are evolutionary indicators of feminine fertility, although such speculation has yet to be proven. Long eyelashes or high-pitched voices may also be considered feminine by some heterosexual men in the West.
Women throughout history have sometimes gone to extremes to meet exacting cultural standards of what is considered attractive.
Larger breast size, a trait considered feminine, is suggested by visual clues, such as the cleavage between the breasts. Many women in western culture will emphasize cleavage to enhance femininity. They may do so by means of the cut of the outer wear, and by
brassieres (bras) that push the breasts upwards and together. Special pads and inserts in the bra can also be used to aid in the positioning of the breasts higher.
Foot Binding
For centuries in
China,
foot binding produced unnaturally small and deformed feet, where toes often rotted due to lack of circulation. Small feet are still considered attractive culturally however. Today, feet continue to remain a
fetish across the world over.
Corsets
In the early twentieth-century
United States and
Europe, women wore
corsets that restricted their movement and caused a variety of health problems, including shortness of breath, malformed organs, atrophied back muscles and difficulty in labor.
High Heels
Modern women often wear
high-heeled shoes. The discomfort commonly associated with high-heeled shoes is endured for the visual effect of elongated legs.
Eating Disorders
Many women in the West also
restrict their food intake in an effort to achieve what they consider an attractively thin body, which in extreme cases can lead to
eating disorders.
Many people criticize the fashion and entertainment industries for promoting underweight , unrealistic and arguably unhealthy ideals of feminine beauty.
Neck Rings
In parts of
Africa and
Asia,
neck rings still signify femininity, in rare cases leaving their wearers crippled and dependent on their
husbands.
USA
In the
United States,
film,
television,
newspapers and
magazines have promoted
dieting,
clothing,
makeup and
hair products, as well as
cosmetic surgery and
drugs as ways to achieve feminine beauty.
Domestic Tasks
Feminine work in the West has traditionally been tied to the domestic sphere. Cooking, cleaning and looking after
children has therefore been regarded as work better suited to women.
Femininity in men
Femininity in men, as masculinity in women, is often considered to be negative due to its contradiction of traditional roles. A common
stereotype of
homosexual men is that they're effeminate, with exaggerated feminine traits. In reality, gay men, like all men, range from very feminine to very masculine.
Drag culture, often associated with homosexuality, makes a virtue of male femininity.
Image:Bound feet (X-ray).jpg|In China until the last century, some mothers broke their daughters' feet to give them tiny, unnatural feet.
Image:Kayan woman with neck rings.jpg|The Kayan people of Northern Thailand associate the wearing of neck rings with femininity.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Femininity'.
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