“she alternated between embracing her femininity and concealing it”

Femininity : femininity is defined as qualities or attributes regarded as characteristics of women or girls.

Masculinity : masculinity is defined as qualities or attributes regarded as characteristics of men or boys.

FEMININITY THEME

Femininity also called womanliness is a set of attributes, behaviours and roles that generally associate with woman and girls. Some behaviours that are considered feminine are influenced by both cultural and biological factors.

Some factors of femininity are :

• Gracefulness
• Gentlness
• Loving
• Nurturing
• Emotional
• Sensitivity

These are all stereotypical factors of femininity, however some woman will not show these characteristics because not every woman is the same and they may feel different about different situations to to others. Woman are stereotyped to be seen as more weak than boys and are seen to be more gentle and understanding instead of taking control of a situation.

History

Around 1950, woman were told they had to stay at home and do the cleaning, cooking and to look after the kids whilst the ” man of the house ” went to work and earned the money for the family. Woman were also objectified and seen as a males property rather than a human being to benefit men. This is not acceptable now and woman should not be told they have to stay at home to do those things, woman are now able to go to work and also earn money to support the family. A women’s purpose was to make children and support them only.

Nowadays, there are many woman who don’t feel as though they fit into the category of the stereotypical woman and want to change genders because they feel more comfortable in a males body. There has been a lot of discussion lately about transgender people all over the world because those who feel they want to transgender want to be accepted as how they are and what they feel is right for them. This is also vice versa towards men. This is now acceptable in our generation and society meaning women and men both have a lot more freedom and can do things as they please and do not feel forced into the stereotypes. However, there is slightly still some misogyny within the work environment as men and women may work the same hours and have the same ability but men will have a higher pay rise. Moreover, some women also feel unable to do jobs because they are seen as a masculine job e.g engineer, plumber etc.

One famous feminist photographer is Cindy Sherman

Sherman’s photography is a depiction of the different ways culture defines “woman.” Her art plays on the feminist idea that gender arises exclusively within culture and deconstructs dominant gender ideologies, representing the underside of popular culture’s definition of “woman.” Cindy Sherman is a female photographer who portrays female stereotypes of the 1950’s and 1960’s. When creating her images, she is not only the photographer but the subject as well. Sherman examines and distorts femininity as a social construct. “I like making images that from a distance seem kind of seductive, colourful, luscious and engaging, and then you realize what you’re looking at is something totally opposite,” she reflected.