Honestly, what does it mean to be masculine or feminine?
Google describes masculinity as possession of the qualities traditionally associated with men including but not limited to being handsome, muscled, and driven.
It describes femininity as the quality of being female; womanliness, using the example “she celebrates her femininity by wearing makeup and high heels". However, these definitions state that a man is masculine and a woman is feminine.
Sometimes that is not the case.
In many cases, there are women who enjoy masculinity and men who enjoy femininity.
Society, however, does not approve.
The society that we live in continues to grow and become more accepting of individuals expressing themselves. However, we still have trouble with men wearing dresses and women shaving their heads.
Men who possess more feminine characteristics are ridiculed for the choices they make that make them, them. I have personally seen men made fun of for wearing dresses or makeup. People constantly talk down to feminine men because it’s, in their opinion, gay and unnatural, but in reality, it could not be more natural.
Why is having feminine qualities a bad thing?
This all comes down to sexism.
Are men that possess feminine qualities less likely to be successful?
Is that why feminine men are looked down on?
Why do we have a perception that femininity is at the bottom of the hierarchy of power?
Men rule the world but only masculine, strong and powerful men rule while the others are cast away on the sidelines.
Similarly, women who possess masculine qualities are treated differently than feminine women. Women are made out to be weak and fragile and not in positions of power.
When a woman possesses traits similar to a man they are made out to be "dikes" or in some cases are thought to be transgender. Simple things such as not shaving or having short hair are thought of as masculinity in females when in reality it’s just their preference in appearance.
Many women who do possess masculine qualities are women who are stronger and more independent than other more feminine women. This concept of masculinity and femininity is making the world want to choose a side.
Men who are feminine and women who are masculine are sometimes ashamed of their personality and physical choices.
But men and women and everyone in between should be allowed to express themselves in any way they choose. It doesn’t matter if a man wants to wear high heels and a woman wants to not shave and be muscular.
Feminine and masculine traits should not be important to society in terms of workplaces or professionalism. In all seriousness, people shouldn’t be judged for their choices.
Be a man and wear a dress.
Be a woman and have muscles. Be you because guess what, society is just this platform of what others want you to be.
And you DO NOT have to follow it!
