For me, feminine is a curvy body with long hair. Scents and oils and incense and such. Clothing designed to reveal as much as cover. A sultry voice. Wisdom and innocence at the same time.
I would associate "feminine" with the Yin principle: Night over day, Water over fire, Dark over light, Passive over active, Downward over upward, etc.
I would also associate it with Mercy over justice, Sympathy over selfishness, Developing relationships with others over clawing one's way to the top, Subtle over blunt, Detail-oriented over broad, Controlling over aggressive, Linguistic intelligence over mathematical intelligence, Fashion over utility, Vegetable over animal, etc., but these are stereotypes.
The truth is, there is no one definition of "femininity". There is only a social bias based on a particular time and place.
Feminine means different things to different people and different things in different contexts. A better question, is what does it mean to you?
In my opinion, "feminine" is when you feel good about yourself as a woman. So, what makes you feel happy, sexy, and confident? IMO, the answer to that question is what is feminine for you.
(It took me a long time to get to that definition from the definition of "lady-like" that I was raised with, but I'm glad I found my way!)
I've been contemplating that one myself :) Hence the post. I'm working out the attitude vs. appearance aspect, ex. is being feminine about how you act, how you carry yourself, how you look/dress, or a combination of the above.
I think it's about how you feel. Something that makes you feel sexy and confident (which has a HUGE effect on how you come across to the world) might make me feel awkward and ungainly.
I had a friend who always wore stockings & a garter belt under her skirt when she needed to feel confident. Unless I'm wearing them *for* someone in private (i.e. they'll be coming off soon) those things drive me up a wall. Which has a totally different effect in terms of relating to the world!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 03:59 pm (UTC)For me, feminine is a curvy body with long hair. Scents and oils and incense and such. Clothing designed to reveal as much as cover. A sultry voice. Wisdom and innocence at the same time.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 05:20 pm (UTC)Literally?
Date: 2006-10-10 04:38 pm (UTC)http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/feminine
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/feminine
and of course:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femininity
Re: Literally?
Date: 2006-10-10 04:42 pm (UTC)Well then...
Date: 2006-10-10 05:26 pm (UTC)I would also associate it with Mercy over justice, Sympathy over selfishness, Developing relationships with others over clawing one's way to the top, Subtle over blunt, Detail-oriented over broad, Controlling over aggressive, Linguistic intelligence over mathematical intelligence, Fashion over utility, Vegetable over animal, etc., but these are stereotypes.
The truth is, there is no one definition of "femininity". There is only a social bias based on a particular time and place.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 06:07 pm (UTC)In my opinion, "feminine" is when you feel good about yourself as a woman. So, what makes you feel happy, sexy, and confident? IMO, the answer to that question is what is feminine for you.
(It took me a long time to get to that definition from the definition of "lady-like" that I was raised with, but I'm glad I found my way!)
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 06:14 pm (UTC)I've been contemplating that one myself :) Hence the post. I'm working out the attitude vs. appearance aspect, ex. is being feminine about how you act, how you carry yourself, how you look/dress, or a combination of the above.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 06:32 pm (UTC)I had a friend who always wore stockings & a garter belt under her skirt when she needed to feel confident. Unless I'm wearing them *for* someone in private (i.e. they'll be coming off soon) those things drive me up a wall. Which has a totally different effect in terms of relating to the world!
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 07:14 pm (UTC)I think Eddie has it down pat:
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 07:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 07:28 pm (UTC)I certainly don't! :)
no subject
Date: 2006-10-10 07:45 pm (UTC)Ah, .... social constructs
Date: 2006-10-10 11:57 pm (UTC)