Over the years, I’ve seen many folk talking about their relationship with femininity and how it relates to their transition and to their sense of identity, of who they are.
I’ve never understood it though. I don’t feel like I have a relationship with femininity, or at least, nothing beyond pragmatic necessity. It doesn’t relate to my sense of identity or who I am. In many ways, it feels like an obligation, rather than a source of empowerment or self understanding.
So, I’m curious how it works for other folk who find empowerment in it. What does it mean to you? How did it help you find yourself? How do you relate to femininity now vs earlier in your life?
Edit - To add some context. I’m 7 years transitioned, and “post transition” for want of a better term. I’m quite comfortable with my own relationship (or lack of it) with femininity. This is more an exercise in trying to understand different perspectives :)
I believe femininity and masculinity are more of personality categories than anything else. Both having a beautiful bits and ugly bits, in femininity the beautiful is a purpensety (idk how to spell that) to care for others in a personal sense (ie caring and nurturing) whereas the positive aspect of masculinity is an inclination towards more material caring (ie protection and providing). The dark sides are related to the positive, with femininity struggling against an inclination to be emotionally manipulative while masculinity struggles to not be physically abuse and physicalyl and emotionally abandoning.
I believe it is important that an individual male female or individual somewhere in the middle determine what they are inclination is towards and focus on improving their positive impact on others and decreasing their negative impact
Also huge disclaimer the traits described are generalizations and do not apply to everyone
Also also, societal rules on femininity or masculinity are really stupid and arbitrary