
The femininity movement has been more prevalent these days. It gains the attention and following of more and more women daily. Women have become more self-conscious, causing them to want to know more about who they are and the best way to show up in this world. Living in a world that is historically patriarchal, more and more women seek a more feminine and fulfilling lifestyle.
If you’re curious about your femininity, you must have wondered if your personality is more feminine or masculine. More so, you might have wondered what exactly is considered to be feminine and what’s considered to be masculine?
In this article, I’ll explain to you the dynamics of both sexes’ personalities. I’ll tell you the traits that are traditionally, genetically and stereotypically associated with femininity and masculinity.
The Meaning of Femininity and Masculinity
Google describes femininity as qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of women. It’s what makes a woman different from a woman. Feminine traits are those traits that women are naturally more drawn to, better at, known for, or more fitted for than men.
Google describes masculinity as qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men. It’s what makes a man different from a woman. Masculine traits are those traits that men are naturally more drawn to, better at, known for, or more fitted for than women.
These traits might appear different for a woman depending on her circumstance. For example, a woman that has lived in a men-dominated area for a long time might develop some masculine traits or think of a masculine trait as a feminine one. The same theory is vice versa for men.
Feminine and Masculine Traits
You might be surprised to know that femininity isn’t all about being weaker, nurturing, and lighter. Although these traits are present and even abundant, there are other facets too.
Likewise; you might be surprised to know that masculinity isn’t all about being serious, rigid, and out of touch with emotions. Although these traits are present and even abundant, there are other facets too.
These are the traits generally associated with the two sexes.
Feminine | Masculine |
Being | Doing |
Surrender | Aggressive |
Patient | Urgent |
Receptive | Assertive |
Soft | Hard |
Submissive | Dominant |
Allowing | Controlling |
Compassion | Principle |
Sensitive | Self-centered |
Graceful | Self-confident |
Nurturing | Strong |
Expressive | Survival |
Receiving | Producing |
Passive | Active |
Feeling | Thinking |
Emotional | Logical |
Intuitive | Rational |
Relationship oriented | Task oriented |
Creation | Consumption |
Tend and befriend | Fight or flight |
Cooling | Heating |
Cooperation | Competition |
Listening | Talking |
Collective | Individual |
Internal | External |
Whole focus | Part focus |
Process | Result |
Collaborative | Competitive |
Circles or swirls | Hierarchical structure |
Circular | Linear |
Planning | Action |
Focus on effect | Focus on intent |
Interdependent | Independent |
Heart | Head |
Love | Need |
Beauty | Will |
Freedom | Structured |
Listening | Speaking |
Respond | Project |
Open | Directive |
Subconscious | Conscious |
Stakeholder oriented | Bottom-line oriented |
Imagination | Reason |
Subjective | Objective |
The unknown | Certainty |
Care | Protect |
Flexible | Rigid |
Flow | Go |
Tactful | Blunt |
Indecisive | Decisive |
Multi-task | Mono-task |
Multi-function | Uni-function |
Both/And | Either/Or |
Sustainability | Efficiency |
Spontaneity | Predictability |
Pleasure | Duty |
Devotion | Discipline |
Fluid | Solid |
Holds on | Let’s go |
Bright and pastel colors | Earthy colors |
Embellishments | Woven textures |
Curvy shapes | Boxy shapes |
Temporal | Spatial |
Experience | Tradition |
Artistic | Scientific |
Poetic | Mechanical |
Dionysian | Apollonian |
Holism | Reductionism |
Desegregating | Compartmentalizing |
Integrating | Differentiating |
Right brain | Left brain |
Earth | Heaven |
Water | Fire |
Moon | Sun |
Eastern | Western |
Liberal | Conservative |
Democratic | Republican |
Yin | Yang |
Innocence “in no sense” | Must “make sense” |
Just being is valid | Must achieve to be valid |
Looks for love | Looks for a problem to solve |
Makes small things big | Makes big things small |
In tune with the body and its sensations and feeling | Transcends emotions into awareness |
Stimulated by praise | Stimulated by challenge |
Free-flowing, full of life energy | Full of direction and purpose |
Wants to gather, talk and vent | Wants freedom and release |
Creates community through listening and sharing | Relates through games and camaraderie |
Magnetically attract what you want | Sets boundaries around emotions |
Sees the big picture and enjoys the process | Relentless pursuits of achievement |
Receptive, calm, fluid and in tune with emotions | More willing to take risks, plans and craves structure |
Understanding, compassionate and feel as a being | Rushes through the process and is decisive in action |
The need to feel connected, valued, appreciated and nurtured | The need to feel successful, purposeful, supported and focused |
Needs reassurance and attention | Needs admiration and appreciation |
Wants trust, connection and praise | Wants to be needed and respected |
Free, flowing, open, radiant | Strong, controlled and focused |
Invisible | Concrete |
Beautiful | Functional |
Nurturer | Provider |
Receiving | Giving |
Yin and Yang Energies
In Daoism tradition, there are 2 types of energies – yin (black) and yang (white). Women are known to be more associated with the yin energy, while men are known to be more associated with the yang energy. Here are the differences between yin and yang energies.
Yin | Yang |
Feminine | Masculine |
Negative charge | Positive charge |
Black | White |
Shade | Light |
Night | Day |
Moon | Sun |
Water | Fire |
Wetness | Dryness |
Autumn/Winter | Spring/Summer |
Faded | Vibrant |
Discreet | Obvious |
Indirect | Direct |
Rounded | Straight |
Softness | Hardness |
Flexibility | Solidity |
Inactivity | Activity |
Stillness | Movement |
Calm | Energetic |
Slow | Fast |
Tired | Lively |
Seed | Sprout |
Frontside | Backside |
Left Side | Right Side |
Right brain | Left brain |
Internal energy | External energy |
Interior | Exterior |
Introspection | Assertion |
Drawing in | Sending out |
Closed spaces | Open spaces |
Mental | Physical |
Even numbers | Odd numbers |
Intuition | Analytical |
Storage | Usage |
Quiet | Loud |
Receptive | Giving |
Death | Life |
Higher pitches | Lower pitches |
Passive | Active |
Compassion | Aggression |
Nurturing | Initiating |
Submissive | Dominant |
Seek Balance
Both feminine and masculine traits exist in all of us, man and woman. You shouldn’t think that because you’re a female, you must express only feminine traits. A healthy person (man or woman) is well balanced in both masculine and feminine traits. It’s not healthy to be exclusively feminine or exclusively masculine. As a woman, it’s fine to lean more towards the feminine side but being all feminine will make it difficult to relate to the world in a healthy way and cause you to lose touch with reality. The same concept is advised for men.
The goal is to be balanced. Find a way to have a healthy balance of both. You shouldn’t be either black or white, you should fall somewhere in the grey areas.
Furthermore, due to other parts of us like our personality types, genetics, zodiac signs, etc, we aren’t expected to have only feminine traits. There are numerous factors that make up a person’s complete personality, and gender is only one of them. People are different in nature and that’s a beautiful thing.
Final Remarks
Ladies, I hope you now have a good understanding of femininity and masculinity. Always embrace your femininity in everything you do. You can use this knowledge to coordinate yourself accordingly. Use your feminine wisdom to be a better person and live your highest life. Be the woman you always wanted to be.
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