Modernized Feminity

Modernized Femininity

Femininity has made an impact in the past, present, and future. Due to the stereotypical ideas, many women are caught in the crossfire of choosing between following the tradition (housewife) or the modern-day woman (career-oriented) journey to fulfill their happiness. Being in the twenty-first century, women have evolved into intelligent, independent human beings. Most important, the freedom to chose ones future has become a popular necessity. Femininity can be found in media, literature, and in everyday life but when does it make an impact on the daily choices we make in life? Does society have more of an influence over individuals than ones true self? Femininity has no one set definition because of society. But if one could describe femininity, in the modern time, it means to be happy with ones self. Femininity and happiness go hand and hand because it all depends on the individual to decide what is feminine and what is not. It no longer is based on being a lady and having a family. Appearance should no longer be a deciding factor because now everybody is different and races are intermixing. As long as the options are open, women will be happy in their bodies and choice of lifestyle.

First of all, what describes femininity? What traits and or actions determine the feminine side of a woman? Society tends to look at the external qualities first in the first encounter. Appearance has become an important factor when judging people. Physical traits, wardrobe, and lifestyle all become visible to the human eye. How does vision depict femininity? What does it take for the image to be something that is feminine? The individual must have all the physical body parts to satisfy the image of "stereotypical women", in terms of having long hair, breast, hips, fragile face, and other feminine aspects.

Some women such as, weight lifters, are sometimes judged because of their appearance. Their happiness was found in making strong, healthy bodies by exercising more than normal. That is what makes that type of women happy. She is the same women inside; her appearance is the only thing that has changed. It is just the same when a woman buys a Chanel bag, which is what makes her happy. According to Susan Faludi, "feminine happiness equals other women's envy of your purchased glamour." (1) These type women get in touch with their happiness by buying expensive clothes, purses, and shoes. When women weightlifters and shopping women are compared, weightlifters are automatically looked down upon. My modern definition justifies their femininity because they are doing what the want in life. That option was not always there, so the weightlifter taken advantage of choice shows her femininity.

After the sight sense is satisfied the individual might go in deeper, and become interested in the internal woman. The personality of women sometimes matches their appearance. In some cases, they tend to be total opposites of each other. For example, a woman may look very bold and confident with her style (in terms of appearance) but in reality she is scared as roach running from the light. In the past, the personality of woman consisted of her being submissive and obedient to the males in her life. In modern times, she is able to rebel against decisions she does not agree with. That falls into female empowerment. Some women believe that the best thing about a woman is having power. Some use their intelligence, confidence, or bodies to get what they want from life. These aspects put power into their hands. What better then to do, then to support those that think, act, and have gone through the journey of becoming women, just like you!

Sigmund Freud psychoanalysis about the cognitive development of female children supports his thesis that tradition feminine values are instilled to their minds at a young age. According to Jill G. Moraski, mothers "promote a sense of unity or connectedness with female infants while promoting separation or independence with males infants."(1) Therefore they develop attitudes of dependency and submissiveness.

Another similar characteristic is gaining independence. From the beginnings of time, males have always been sought out to provide for the family. Many women today have taken on similar roles and adapted to being the provider for them. Independence has become a popular goal among ambitious young women. When does too much independence contradict the feminine side of the woman? What about female empowerment? Society decides the standard to which it becomes abnormal. Sometimes society does not accept outspoken women that go against the norm. They become a threat to the concepts and ideas about women that already instilled in the minds to generations to come.

The stereotypes that have developed about women over the years have made life harder for women as a whole. As far back as history takes us, women were only seen as mothers and wives. Women were seen to be incapable of making decisions, providing for themselves, and achieving anything of importance besides producing a strong heir. They were trained to be submissive to their husbands. They have also been segregated from society. Women involvement in politics, government, or major decisions in their household was seen to be wrong. From "Feminist Theory," women are "absent from most positions of recognized leadership," therefore, women have to come to seen themselves as "powerlessness." (1) From being treated like a slave for so many generations women did have the mentality of being weak and submissive. But now in the 21st century, they are no longer quiet and passive towards men. They speak their mind at times when a woman's voice should be heard. The main factor that caused such helplessness among women was being deprived of education. Without any form of education, survival was out of the question.

Education has been a major factor that has aided women's success in the past, present, and future. They have changed the stereotypical idea that women are incapable of learning. Now days, women are surpassing the expected and taking jobs in male-oriented areas. Women executives, partners in major law firms, and even presidents are getting popular by the minute. During the process, many women have had to cross obstacles to earn their standing in their career. At times, they have sacrificed something to make their goal reachable. From the essay "Gender in the Workplace: Masculinity and Femininity," gender discrimination has been on the rise due to women wanting to more than just a secretary. Many employers underestimate a woman's capabilities until they feel the wrath of an ambitious woman that wants a career. Jobs should not be label men only and women only