MASCULINITY AND FEMININITY
The sex / gender differences raise the issues of male –
female; masculine and feminine, male associated with
masculinity and female with femininity. With each
construction the biological differences between men and
women get translated into social terms and descriptions.
Feminist writers argue that biological differences get
heightened through social descriptions of masculinity
and femininity. Patters of differences by gender is seen
when the character is either masculine or feminine. For
example, pink and blue are gendered colors, former
regarded as „feminine‟ and the latter as masculine.
Further to be „strong‟ and „tough‟ is masculine. Being
„weak‟ and „soft‟ are associated with feminine
character. There are several other traits that are
categorized as masculine and feminine. Masculinity and
femininity are concepts which signify the social outcomes
of being male or female the traits and characteristics
which describe men and women give men advantage
over women.
Moira Gatens says masculinity is not valued unless
performed by biological male. Hence the male body is
imbued in our culture with certain traits that characterize
maleness or masculinity. Similarly femininity is
performed by the biological female. The female body is in
our culture is imbued with certain traits that characterize
female or femininity. According to Judith Butler any
theorization about gender introduces the notion or idea
of performance of gender in terms of masculinity and
femininity. Thus performance of gender becomes
involuntary as gender gets internalized through the
socialization process within the dominant discourses of
patriarchy gender is performed at different levels within
the family and in the society. We socially enter into our
gendered categories of masculine and feminine right
from birth. Some argue that these differences are based
in their biology while others reject this argument and
emphasize that the differences are socially constructed.
Therefore, the construction of men and masculinity will
accrue exclusively to the bodies of males. The
construction of women and femininity will accrue
exclusively to the bodies of females.
WHAT IS MASCULINITY AND FEMINITY?
Masculinity is seen to be the trait which emphasizes
ambition, acquisition of wealth and differentiated gender
roles. According to Hoftstede’s definition, Masculinity
stands for a society in which social gender roles are
clearly distinct: Men are supposed to be assertive, tough,
and focused on material success; women are supposed
to be more modest, tender and concerned with the
quality of life. Feminity stands for a society in which
women are considered delicate, emotional, soft-spoken,
vulnerable, weak and talkative.
ATTRIBUTES OF MASCULINITY AND FEMININITY
The Femininity Study discusses the attributes of
femininity as “women everywhere are assumed (or
preferred) to be delicate, emotional, soft-spoken,
vulnerable, weak and talkative. On the other hand, men
are thought to be strong, rational, protective and tough”.
The Femininity Study further states that certain historical
traits of patriarchal culture are linked to female roles and
behaviors including “inferiority, passivity, housework or
cleaning, obedience, being a good homemaker, long,
flowing hair, light skin, a narrow waist, and little or no
body hair or facial hair, and being sexually submissive”.
Women are considered weak, vulnerable, possessing a
certain physique and lacking the qualities of rationality
and physical strength that is associated with masculinity.
Even within families, men dominate and make most of
the decisions whereas women in the households mostly
only air their suggestions. This is prevalent across all
classes. Another key feminine trait is linked to marital
status and motherhood. It is assumed that every
woman’s ultimate goal is to be a wife and mother.
DIFFERENCES IN THE TRAITS THAT ARE
CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE FOR MASCULINE AND
FEMININE
MASCULINE TRAITS FEMININE TRAITS
They are considered They are regarded as
competent in society, emphatic and they live
like achieving goals. for others.
They are rational and They are more
their choices are sensitive.
calculated on material
success.
They are assertive and They accept whatever
they impose their is being told to them.
decisions onto others.
They are independent. They are financially
dependent.
They are regarded as They are considered
tough in nature gentle.
ROOTS OF MASCULINITY AND FEMINITY
Earlier in Western culture, men were seen as aggressive,
competitive and instrumentally orientated, while women
were seen as passive, cooperative and expressive. Early
thinking assumed that this decision was based on
physical differences between the two sexes. However,
Western feminists later challenged this patriarchal
concept which was based on biological differences.
Margaret Mead in her studies “Three Primitive Societies”
argued that gender differences between men and
women are not function of their biological factors; rather
they are result from differences in socialization and
cultural practices in societies.
1. PSYCHO-ANALYTIC THEORY
Psycho-Analytic theory asserts that men have an
inherent psychological need to subjugate women. The
roots of men’s domination and women’s subjugation lay
deep within the human psyche. It argues that this
pattern of oppression is integrated in our society,
starting from early childhood development to gender
roles.
2. GENDER SCHEMA THEORY BY SANDRA BEM
Gender Schema theory says children learn about what it
means to be male and female from the culture in which
they live. It suggests that culture largely influence how
children develop their ideas about what it means to be a
man and woman. Society’s beliefs what constitutes
“Male Traits” and “Female Traits” influence the
development of gender schema.
3. FREUD’S THEORY OF MASCULINITY AND FEMINITY
According to Freud’s theory, male has a natural
superiority over women because women do not have
male’s organ. Therefore, the theory argues that anatomy
does not explain women’s social disempowerment;
however, gender is influenced by culture and society.