Femininity

Femininity is the dynamic sociocultural, psychological, and visible traits and characteristics that are traditionally associated with the birth sex of girls/women in a given culture and are informed by sociocultural contexts. The definition of femininity has evolved beyond the gender binary, with contemporary views of femininity being defined as multidimensional, and incorporating varying degrees of femininity and masculinity across personal, social, role, and implicit identities. There is current debate about the conceptual independence of femininity and masculinity and whether they relate more to social role and professional identity than to personal and gender identity. Moreover, feminists and gender theorists have challenged the traditional definition of femininity, which is often fueled by patriarchal culture, and propose that each individual can define femininity. This may include deviations from stereotypical femininity across sexes, gender identities, and gender expressions, including transgender and intersex people.