In doing a throw out at home of old files I came across this note from my cis girlfriend Alison on what is femininity
Thought everyone might like it:
Femininity, in essence is a romantic sentiment, a nostalgic tradition of imposed limitations. Even as it hurries forward into the 1990's, putting on lipstick, and high heels to appear well dressed, it trips on the ruffled petticoats and hoop skirts of an era gone by. Invariably and necessarily, femininity is something that women had more of in the past, not only in the historic past of prior generations, but in each woman's personal past as well – in the virginal innocence that is replaced by knowledge, in the glowing cheeks that are coarsened by age, in the inherent nature what a woman seems to misplace so forgetfully when she steps out of bounds. Why should this be so, the oestrogen dominated hormonal balance is generally as biology intended, the reproductive organs, are usually in place, the breasts of whatever size are most often where they should be, But clearly femaleness is not enough. Femininitydemands more.
Basically to fail at the feminine difference is to appear not to care about men, and to risk the loss of their attention and approval. To be insufficiently feminine is viewed as a core failure in core sexual identity, or as a failure to care about oneself, for a woman founding wanting will be appraised (and will appraise herself) as mannish or simply unattractive as men have defined these terms.
Femininity though is being about an exquisite aesthetic. Enormous pleasure can be extracted from feminine pursuits as a creative outlet, or purely as relaxation, indeed indulgence for the sake of fun, or art, or attention is among femininity's great joys. Basically the world smiles and adores the feminine woman.
It does not require a great deal of imagination for a woman to understand the feminine principle as a grand collection of compromises, large and small that she must make to simply make herself a successful woman
The masculine principal is best understood as the driving ethos of superiority designed to inspire straightforward success, whilst the feminine principle is composed of vulnerability. The need for protection, the formalities of compliance and the avoidance of conflict – in short an appeal of dependence and good will that gives the masculine principal its romantic validity and its admiring applause.
Part 2 to follow:
JudithLynn
