What Is Femininity? | Feminine Rediscovery – Femininity, what does it mean? Let us establish that femininity differs from culture to culture, and person to person. Some women think that femininity consists of just looking the part. This definitely helps with feeling feminine. Having your nails done, wearing lipstick and putting on heels can really make a difference.
But that is not all it is! Femininity is a way of ‘being’ and not something you just put on. Looking pretty is surface-level work, and we want to work on our feminine rediscovery. So let’s dive into some definitions of femininity.
Femininity: some definitions I found online
Femininity is the opposite of masculinity
Being feminine is seen as the opposite of being masculine (duh!). But to say that they are opposites is also saying that people are classified as either feminine or masculine. That does not have to be the truth! People are all made up of feminine and masculine traits. Women are more feminine and men masculine, that is true. But to say that you’re always just one of the two is impossible. Therefore I personally don’t agree with this definition but it is the one most thought of, so worth sharing.
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Femininity is a set of attributes
Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviours, and roles often associated with women and girls. Some of our behaviours have been taught to us by society, but interestingly enough research shows that some behaviours that are considered “feminine” are biologically influenced. This has been debated for years: is femininity taught to us or are we genetically engineered to be feminine. I believe both are true because life is all about nature and nurture and some traits are so aligned with who we are as women, they feel built-in! Some traits that are seen as feminine include:
- Gentleness
- Empathy
- Humility
- Sensitivity
- Collaborative
- Nurturing
- Vulnerability
- Caring
- Intuitive
- Patience
- Receptiveness
It’s the “being” energy
Some people define femininity as the “being” energy, which is contrasted by the masculine “doing energy”. To be in your “being” energy as a woman means that you are receptive, and “open” and… Able to be (ahem) “filled”. Men who are in their “doing” energy, strive to go forward, to take action! Getting things done and being (ahem) a penetrative force, is what makes a man (according to this definition). Another way to explain this concept is to look at the way we make babies (yes, I am going there) Tell me sisters, does the egg chase the sperm? NO! The sperm is doing the work (masculine energy) while the egg is just “being” (feminine energy) waiting to be filled. I know it sounds crude and almost distasteful but in the end, it’s just part of our biological makeup
It’s a state of mind
Femininity is about embracing your feminine state of mind. This state of mind, this way of just “being” in your feminine energy is expressed through our behaviour, looks, and how we treat ourselves and others. To be feminine is to be sweet and sensitive, some people see this as a weakness but that could not be more wrong. The strongest women are those that can be sweet even in the face of evil. Women who don’t let bitterness fester, are truly the strongest people you will ever meet. Because sisters:
It takes strength to be gentle and kind
Aisha as our example of femininity
Aisha (RA), was our Prophet’s Muhammad (PBUH) third and youngest wife. She is also known by the title “Mother of the Believers”. The Prophet (PBUH) loved Aisha very much because Aisha was a very easy woman to love. She was known to be exceptionally beautiful and quick-witted. With a brilliant mind and a remarkable memory, she was able to continue teaching the ways of the Prophet long after he was gone. Aisha (RA) had a tender loving heart and she was sweet and kind. Not only was she beautiful and intelligent, but she was also very modest and pure. A true lady with an eloquent way of words. All these qualities made her into a feminine, attractive and fascinating woman.
How to be a feminine Muslim Woman?
All these definitions explain the same concept but look at it through different lenses. Not one definition is wrong since femininity differs from woman to woman and culture to culture. I want to establish “Your Classy Muslim Sister’s” definition of femininity with you as the following:
To rediscover our femininity, we feminine Muslim women need to be conscious of our feminine energy and traits. We need to be gentle, empathic and caring. Being able to receive, to be adored and to be cared for is also a part of this. It is necessary to see ourselves as the wonderful diamonds we are. We should always know our worth and never settle for anything less. To be feminine is to be beautiful, inside and out. To be a feminine Muslim sister is to be like our Mother Aisha (RA).
Femininity is a rediscovery
As I have said before, we are going to rediscover our femininity. Now that we have a definition of what our version is going to be, we can take steps towards this goal. For now, just make sure you become conscious of your own femininity. Are you a very caring person? Or are you very soft-spoken? Are you beautiful in the sense that you spend time on your looks? Are you beautiful inside? In the sense that you make sure you are a good person and Muslim? Are you sweet and kind? Do you know your own worth? Give yourself some time to think all this information through because next time we will dive deeper into the traits and how to practice them! Do you want to help the other Muslim sisters in your life too? Share my blog with them and follow me on Social Media!
Kisses,
Your Classy Muslim Sister
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