?Feminity? just means, ?that which is female.? What is, and isn?t, inherently female?
How much of what we are told constitutes ?feminity? is not inherently female?
Or even in women?s best interests?
For example, high heels make women more vulnerable to rape, robbery, or being hit. Women who are more physically vulnerable are less likely to do or say things that might piss off a man if they are more vulnerable to being hit. They render women less physically capable (which is why women typically don?t work out at the gym in heels, or work on home improvement construction projects in them.)
Makeup and fancy hair is time-consuming, costs money, and some would argue (as do I) that it leads to women feeling uglier and less accepting about their natural appearance without it. (Have you ever known a woman who is so used to seeing herself in makeup she is ashamed to be seen or leave the house without it?) It also caters to men who don?t like women?s natural appearances, and perpetuates the idea that women are naturally unattractive, or less attractive than the contents in a jar. I went on a blind date with a guy to whom I?d mentioned over the phone I didn?t wear make-up. He sounded shocked, then said slowly, ?That?s great if you don?t *need* it.? Apparently, this guy thinks women ?need? makeup and aren?t unacceptable in our natural skin! It was a short date. We saw eye-to-eye on zilch.
Can you think of some other examples?
@SciGuy, that is my whole point, that ?feminity? as MEN have defined it is narrow and unnatural.
However, if you think that men?s judgments and criticisms of women?s bodies don?t affect women, you have so, so much to learn. I do wear only walking and athletic shoes, don?t wear makeup, etc., but those bigoted criticisms by men do affect women all the time, in very serious, destructive ways.
@Adophis, femininity in the biological sense has been tried to be defined by men for a very long time. History is filled with books of what is and isn?t ?supposed? to be female. Men have absolutely worked obsessively to define what femininity is in every regard. Look on this forum, women are criticized for having mustaches (biology), for not being into ?feminine? clothes or looking/dressing ?butch,? etc.
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