Femininity

Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women and girls. Although femininity is socially constructed, some research indicates that some behaviors considered feminine are biologically influenced. To what extent femininity is biologically or socially influenced is subject to debate. It is distinct from the definition of the biological female sex, as both males and females can exhibit feminine traits.

Characteristics

Traits traditionally cited as feminine include gentleness, empathy, humility, and sensitivity, though traits associated with femininity vary across societies and individuals, and are influenced by a variety of social and cultural factors.

In gender studies

In gender studies, femininity is used to refer to a set of typical female qualities associated with a certain attitude to gender roles; womanliness is like femininity, but is usually associated with a different view of gender roles. Effeminacy is a term often used to describe traits in a human male that are more often associated with traditional feminine nature, behavior, mannerisms, style, or gender roles rather than masculine nature, behavior, mannerisms, style or roles.

In history

The history of femininity is connected to cultural understandings of gender roles and how they have changed over time. The understanding of femininity in Western societies has evolved significantly throughout history, from the Middle Ages, when women were considered weak and inferior, to the present day, where women are generally considered equal to men.

In society

In many societies, femininity is culturally associated with beauty and purity. It is also associated with certain traditional gender roles in many societies, such as motherhood, and is often seen as a social construct that is influenced by a wide variety of factors.

See also

• Masculinity
• Gender roles
• Gender studies
• Effeminacy

References

Femininity Resources
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