{"id":328,"date":"2017-03-01T12:20:52","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T17:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/?p=328"},"modified":"2017-03-01T12:20:52","modified_gmt":"2017-03-01T17:20:52","slug":"truth-about-femininity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/truth-about-femininity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Truth About Femininity – It’s Not What You Think it Is"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"old-woman-1077121_1920 A fellow writer put out a challenge for March: to \u201cSpring into Femininity.\u201d She has the goal to write daily about femininity<\/a>.<\/span> The challenge is to see our femininity, to acknowledge it and to make it work in our lives. Though I don\u2019t plan to write daily<\/em> about this, I am intrigued by the concept and want to explore my thoughts and feelings about the word and the meaning behind it.<\/p>\n

Merriam-Webster defines femininity as \u201cthe quality or nature of the female sex.\u201d The Oxford Living Dictionary definition differs slightly: \u201cQualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of women.\u201d And Urban Dictionary gives us: \u201cFeminine means \u2018What pertains to a woman.\u2019 There are no qualifications. Whatever a woman does is feminine, because they are a woman, and they are doing something that pertains to them.” They then go on to add, \u201cThe only thing that can really be called “feminine” are ovaries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course this is not what most people are thinking when they use the word feminine. If pressed to come up with synonyms, most people would use words such as soft, delicate, gentle, and dainty.<\/p>\n

But these words don’t really work. Think about women\u2019s role throughout time. The one thing that women can do that men cannot is give birth. Anyone who has been through or witnessed this knows that this experience is difficult and painful and frequently includes sounds and actions that would be seen by most as very \u201cun<\/em>-ladylike.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"washing-41825_1280\"Consider jobs that are traditionally seen as \u201cwomen\u2019s work.\u201d Though smart men do not dare to use this term today, think of the daily lives of our great-grandmothers and great-great-grandmothers. I think it is safe to say that most of them spent their days at hard manual labor: scrubbing \u2013 floors, clothing, dishes; hauling \u2013 wood, water; and preparing meals (which may have included harvesting and slaughtering). This was all done while also making sure that their children survived to adulthood. Are you picturing a dainty, delicate damsel in distress here?<\/p>\n

While I was a child who hated all things \u201cgirly,\u201d I grew into a teen who appreciated her softer side and actually enjoyed opportunities to put on a pretty dress. While my early experiences with feminism<\/a> <\/span>made me believe that the movement was anti-men and therefore not something I wanted any part of, I have grown to see that true feminism benefits us all.<\/p>\n

As defined, femininity is complex, as women (and men for that matter) are. We are much more than what we wear, say or do. We can be both tough and soft, both strong and vulnerable, both adventurous and refined, just not all at the same time.<\/p>\n

I think this will be an interesting topic to ponder this month. I hope it will start a conversation. I, for one, am starting to think about it differently already.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A fellow writer put out a challenge for March: to \u201cSpring into Femininity.\u201d She has the goal to write daily about femininity. The challenge is to see our femininity, to acknowledge it and to make it work in our lives. Though I don\u2019t plan to write daily about this, I am intrigued by the concept […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-feminism"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7mJoQ-5i","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21,"url":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/%ef%bb%bfa-reluctant-feminist\/","url_meta":{"origin":328,"position":0},"title":"\ufeffA Reluctant Feminist","author":"Kimberly Yavorski","date":"February 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I have an uncomfortable relationship with feminism. It has sort of grown up with me. As a young girl, I saw women taking the stage, speaking forcefully, making themselves heard and refusing to sit down. While this is in part admirable, I found their demeanor often offensive. The feminists of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "feminism"","block_context":{"text":"feminism","link":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/category\/feminism\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/img_7542.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/img_7542.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/img_7542.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/img_7542.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/img_7542.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/img_7542.jpg?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":114,"url":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/dinosaur-years-begin\/","url_meta":{"origin":328,"position":1},"title":"And So The Dinosaur Years Begin","author":"Kimberly Yavorski","date":"May 2, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I am turning 50 this year and am beginning to see disturbing signs. Despite the fact that I am college-educated and see myself as an intelligent person, I am more and more being frustrated by what I don\u2019t know, specifically with regards to technology. This is amplified by the ease\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "midlife"","block_context":{"text":"midlife","link":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/category\/midlife\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/05\/IMG_0001.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/05\/IMG_0001.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/05\/IMG_0001.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/05\/IMG_0001.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/05\/IMG_0001.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/05\/IMG_0001.jpg?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":318,"url":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/readers-to-blame\/","url_meta":{"origin":328,"position":2},"title":"Are Readers to Blame for Sensational Journalism?","author":"Kimberly Yavorski","date":"February 7, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Shortly after the election, a young woman I know requested help with a media ethics class assignment. Her task was to find examples of bias in the news that was of concern to readers. Since this is someone I am fond of and the topic is in my field, I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"news\"","block_context":{"text":"news","link":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/tag\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"newspaper-1595773_1920","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/02\/newspaper-1595773_1920-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/02\/newspaper-1595773_1920-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/02\/newspaper-1595773_1920-300x200.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":66,"url":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/irresponsible-preaching-and-irresponsible-journalism\/","url_meta":{"origin":328,"position":3},"title":"Irresponsible Preaching and Irresponsible Journalism","author":"Kimberly Yavorski","date":"March 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I am breaking rules. I am talking about politics and religion (okay, not exactly, but politics and religion are both tangentially related to my story). I believe in rules for the common good, but also in tolerance. People should be left to make their own decisions, as long as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "social mores"","block_context":{"text":"social mores","link":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/category\/social-mores\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/03\/img_7430.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/03\/img_7430.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/03\/img_7430.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":180,"url":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/writers-special-crazy\/","url_meta":{"origin":328,"position":4},"title":"Writers Are A Special Kind of Crazy","author":"Kimberly Yavorski","date":"July 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The writing community, unlike many others, is extremely supportive. Though there is competition for markets, that cut-throat competitive spirit just isn\u2019t there. Maybe it is the often solitary nature of the work that drives us all to be nice to each other. Maybe we are all just nice people who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"writing community\"","block_context":{"text":"writing community","link":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/tag\/writing-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"writer-605764_1280","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/07\/writer-605764_1280-300x220.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":41,"url":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/my-worst-fear-came-true-i-inherited-my-grandmothers-chest\/","url_meta":{"origin":328,"position":5},"title":"My Worst Fear Came True \u2013 I Inherited My Grandmother\u2019s Chest","author":"Kimberly Yavorski","date":"March 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"My biggest fear growing up was that someday I would have Grandma\u2019s chest. You may be questioning this statement and picturing some hideous wooden box, however, I am not talking about a Hope Chest or anything of the sort, but the chest she carried beneath her chin and above her\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "family"","block_context":{"text":"family","link":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/category\/family\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/03\/07.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/03\/07.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/03\/07.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/03\/07.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/03\/07.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/03\/07.jpg?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=328"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":338,"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/328\/revisions\/338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kimberlyyavorski.com\/inandout\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}