Learning Femininity
Q1: Messages about femininity being lesser
My dad referred to anything emotional or gentle as 'soft.' He'd say 'don't be so sensitive' when I cried. Nobody said it directly, but the message was constant: having feelings — something I now associate with femininity — made you weak.
Q2: What was it like to reflect on this?
When I think about my kids receiving these same messages, I feel a kind of protective anger I didn't have for myself. I still catch myself using the same language my dad used, and I'm working on that.