Part of the reason that feminine people, activities, etc. are not taken seriously is because we are trained to see them as silly, trivial, and unimportant. One way that this is communicated is by making femininity the brunt of a joke.
We See This a Lot in the Media!
For example, have you ever noticed that femininity is used to mock or ridicule political leaders? Or perhaps you've noticed that femininity is sometimes the punchline or the brunt of a joke?
On Saturday Night Live or scrolling through Instagram, viewers roll with laughter at the sight of a man in makeup or a dress. Sometimes we even use this "feminine joke" to mock men in power (e.g., Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin) and to "take them down a notch," so to speak.
We see the feminine joke subtly and not-so-subtly throughout the day, and typically give it little thought or attention — because using femininity to "poke fun" at someone happens all the time (e.g., feminizing sports teams or athletes by calling them "princesses").
But why is this funny? Why and how does femininity "take down" men in power? And how might treating femininity in this way contribute to other forms of gender-based oppression, such as sexism/misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia?
Learn more:
Open the toggle heading below to explore examples of Femmephobia in the media.
Femmephobia in the Media Video Examples
Whether we're using femininity to demote, mock, or "entertain," the feminine joke keeps femininity as something that's seen as "lesser." As a result, we take feminine people less seriously and see them as less credible, less competent, less authentic, and less powerful.
Femininity in Children's Media
We see the same thing happening in children's media, where femininity is used as a disguise or to communicate deception. For example, Bugs Bunny (a male cartoon) is often depicted in bonnets, dresses, skirts, and makeup to trick Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam. This repeated message teaches children that femininity is not to be trusted: it's a form of trickery that holds ulterior motives.
Femininity, hyper-femininity, and femininity in men are also used to show that someone is a villain, amoral, or otherwise nefarious. Disney villains like Scar (Lion King) use "feminized" traits like flamboyancy, mannerisms, speech, eyeliner, and vanity to signal to the audience that the character is not to be trusted.
Other examples include:
- Power Puff Girls' HIM Character — who wears high heels, makeup, and speaks in a high-pitched voice
- Ursula (The Little Mermaid)
- Jafar (Aladdin)
- Tamatoa (Moana) — the giant snail who is obsessed with jewelry
Taken together, these messages are dangerous: not only teaching children that it's okay to mock and ridicule femininity, but to also be distrustful and skeptical of femininity on certain people and done in certain ways. These lessons can become stepping stones to future aggression and violence toward women and feminine people, shaping both the mistreatment our children come to tolerate from others and the mistreatment they may enact toward people who express femininity.
When femininity is used to signal that someone is deceptive, a villain, or has poor morals, what messages do children of all genders receive about femininity?
While these representations of femininity can begin early in childhood, they persist throughout the lifespan, socializing us to treat femininity as suspect, untrustworthy, and amoral.
Activity: Femmephobic Media
Thinking back to your own childhood or to experiences you've had with your child/children, what are some examples of femmephobic media representations or characters you've noticed?
- Which movies, shows, or cartoons come to mind?
- How was femininity portrayed — as silly, deceptive, villainous, or weak?
- Did you notice it at the time, or does it stand out more in hindsight?
Share Your Examples of Femmephobia in the Media
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Masculinity in the Media
On the flip side of the gender binary, we often see girls and women adopting masculinity in order to fight alongside men or gain status, acceptance, and power (i.e., male privilege). In these portrayals, masculinity is not treated as deceptive or morally suspect but as a legitimate pathway to power.
Because masculinity is positioned higher in the gender hierarchy, adopting it is framed as a social advancement from femininity rather than something to be mocked or distrusted.
Some examples of this phenomenon are:
- Mulan (Disney's Mulan)
- Eponine (Les Misérables)
- Viola (She's the Man)
- Arya (Game of Thrones)
- Eowyn (Lord of the Rings)
- Georgia (Fireheart)
Activity: Can You Think of Others?
Can you think of other examples from movies, TV, or books where a girl or woman adopts masculinity and is rewarded or respected for it?
- How does this compare to examples where a boy or man adopts femininity?
- What messages do these contrasting portrayals send to children?
Learn more: Open the toggle heading below to view some examples of masculinity in the media.
Masculinity in the Media
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