INKSCRPT

Reconciling femininity with my masculinity is a challenge I’ve constantly grappled with, and I’m sure many of you can relate.

Many people struggle with balancing an identity that is feminine due to the stigmatization of individuals who express themselves in feminine ways. We constantly have to prove ourselves, often to the point of sacrificing our femininity, in order to be taken seriously and not seen as ‘less competent’ as our more ‘masculine’ counterparts. Men, women, non-binary folks alike.

We’ve seen this countless times, and even more recently with how the USA Women’s Hockey Team was treated versus the Men’s. We see it in how people react to “feminine” styles on men, like cropped tops and form fitting silhouettes and painted nails. We see it in how “feminine” attributes as less desirable or admirable in the hierarchy of human traits. We see it in how “feminine” genres, such as romance, are viewed. They’re dismissed as “guilty pleasures” or considered “low brow”.

But there is beauty and joy in the co-existence of masculinity and femininity in all aspects of life, whether it be in fashion/style, music, art… Because being feminine doesn’t make you any less worthy.

We need to learn to embrace diverse expressions of femininity and accept that it can co-exist with typically masculine traits and domains, without one taking away from the other.

What are your thoughts? Do you have any stories/experiences you’re comfortable sharing in relation to this?