Title: 7 Ways Our Culture Devalues Femininity
Headings: 7 Ways Our Culture Devalues Femininity
7 Ways Our Culture Devalues Femininity
1
Viewing Kindness as Weakness
2
Perceiving Feminine Men As Weak
3
Using “Girly” as an Insult
4
Thinking Things Written or Created by Women are Only for Women
5
Assuming Femininity Undercuts Feminism
6
Assuming A Woman Needs To Act Masculine to Be Successful
7
Arguing that “Feminism” Shouldn’t Have The Word “Female” In It

Content: Embracing your femininity doesn't negate your feminism. 6
Assuming A Woman Needs To Act Masculine to Be Successful
GIPHY
The idea that in order for a woman to be successful, she needs to “act like a man” assumes that a feminine woman (and, again, someone of literally any gender other than male) cannot be successful. Women who are strong and tough are praised on their leadership qualities. However, women are cautioned that being emotional or too sensitive will prevent them from succeeding. This piece on why we need to stop devaluing femininity says it perfectly: “Little girls are, for the most part, taught that women can be anything. ... However, what they aren't taught is that people who dress, think or act in a traditionally feminine manner can be anything. 7
Arguing that “Feminism” Shouldn’t Have The Word “Female” In It
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A question and critique about feminism that consistently arrises is about the word "feminism" itself. The general notion is that if feminism is supposed to be inclusive of all, why does the name of the movement only refer to females? There are plenty of reasons both historical and symbolic why we keep the "fem" in the word "feminism."