Performing Femininity

[apple_pathways]

(Disclaimer: Dudes, I want your opinions, too. I know there's, like: two of you who read my journal regularly. But don't feel left out if it seems I'm only talking to the ladies!)

The subject has come up elsewhere, and it's been on my mind recently: what is femininity? Is it the traditional, stereotypical traits that have historically been prized in women? (And in whose history?) Has the definition evolved significantly over time, or are we still stuck in an antiquated frame of mind? Which qualities are absolutely necessary in order to be considered feminine, and which are optional?

Are you offended when certain traits, interests, or qualities are described as masculine or feminine? As for myself, whenever I've taken any sort of "Male or Female" brain test, I've always skewed slightly toward the masculine side of the scale. (Including when I took such a test in college as a research participant for credit in my psychology class.) It does bother me when people say I "think like a guy", but I do realize that when it comes to science, they're speaking about statistical norms, which I'm cool with, because I like math. :P (Even though, as a child, I got much more attention for my writing abilities than I did my mathematical skill.)

(If anyone else is interested in taking a test based on "male vs. female" brain science, here's a really good one from the BBC. Save it for when you have some time, though, as there are multiple parts. Though I do believe you can save each section as you finish.)



[Poll #1749763]

Also, I'd like to know: how well do you fit into (what you perceive to be) your culture's definition of 'masculine' or 'feminine'? What do you think of others who are unable to adhere to your culture's rules? How many of the differences between men and women come from biology, and how many are culturally constructed?

I'll provide my own responses once I've had some sleep!

Comments

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

You ask this question with freakish timing, since I'm in the middle of my own little gender identity crisis.

But that's not why I haven't done the survey - it's honestly because I cannot think of a single quality by itself that is either masculine or feminine. I mean, I'm not going to say there is no such thing - because there are feminine people and masculine people, but it's not something I can point to as 'this is what makes me think this'.

I wonder if it's not maybe the way certain qualities interact with each other? Forgive me, this is just-woken-up critical thinking, here.

[planejane.livejournal.com]

That was a problem for me, too. I started with lots of ticks, then none, then I went back and ticked two. And I really wasn't satisfied with those in the end.

I don't have any problems with my gender identitity, I'm very comfortable with mine. But I still found those ticky boxes very hard. I can't imagine what it must have been like for you.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

You can imagine the trouble I had making the ticky boxes! No matter how many categories I came up with and no matter how many traits I defined, I just didn't feel like I had covered every possibility for what makes a person masculine or feminine. (I think ladylovelace has it right when she says it's something about the interaction of these traits.)

The poll is really just a tool to get people thinking about gender. I find there's no better way to get people thinking about something than to force them to choose between ticky boxes!

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to say there is no such thing - because there are feminine people and masculine people, but it's not something I can point to as 'this is what makes me think this'.

That's exactly the problem I had when making this survey! I thought: I know certain things are considered to be masculine or feminine, but I can't point to any single characteristic (or group of characteristics) that's absolutely essential to defining the terms.

I wonder if it's not maybe the way certain qualities interact with each other?

I think you're definitely onto something there! Let me know if you develop your theory further.

There's a lot more I want to say to you, but I think I'll be covering it in other comments, so if you'd care to browse, I think you'll get a fuller picture of what I'm on about with this post!