THE POWER IN EXPRESSING FEMININITY

The Power in Embracing Your Femininity

“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”

-Simone de Beauvoir

Femininity is a fluid and complex concept that is socially constructed, rather than a biological trait. Anyone can be feminine.

Jane Rago (she/her), the co-director of the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Program at Georgia Southern, provided some insight into how femininity can manifest differently from person-to-person.

Some have internalized it to feel like second nature despite how often femininity changes. Some may play with femininity the way people play with fashion. Some use it for survival and the need to conform. Some use it to make money. Some teach their children certain ways to be feminine. The list goes on.

“I think some find femininity as a source of comfort and relief, and relish in this trope, most particularly if you feel as if you were born in the wrong sex,” Rago said. “Femininity here can be a place of empowerment and affirmation.”

Arya Johnson (she/her, they/ them) is a freshman at Georgia Southern and a trans-woman. She has been able to work towards finding balance between femininity and masculinity, and is less confined by the traditional standards of the gender she was born with (male).

Her sense of being feminine stems from taking care of how she looks and acts. How she dresses embraces this, since taking the time to make sure she looks her best makes her feel the best.

By, Lauren Sabia

“I would say find the definition of what femininity means to you, and just follow that because to each person it means something different,” Johnson said. “I would tell them to be introspective in their actions, and not only how they affect others, but how they affect themselves, and find the best way to move forward to better yourself and others.”