FREE ESSAY ON FEMININITY

FEMININITY

The New Femininity
Femininity is not a word that we are encouraged to use these days. A lot of people would
argue that femininity is the thing that keeps women obedient to men. However, there is a
hidden assumption behind this term. The assumption is that masculinity is superior to
femininity; that femininity is not a beautiful and powerful thing in its own right. I
believe that women have something men do not have. Women have special qualities that
belong to them as women, and they do not intend to suppress those special qualities. I
think the world would be a much poorer place without femininity. 
?gWhat means to be a woman??h What first came to my mind was stereotypical. Passive,
dependent, altruistic, intuitive emotionally open, and impulsive?cis this what meant to
be the ideal women in our society?
In general, men have more power in the public place such as economic and political order,
while women have more power in the private place such as domestic life, family. The
social whole will be best suited if each sex does those tasks for which they are best
suited. In fact, men and women have biologically different capacities and interests
(aggressive vs. maternal feelings, etc) In the role of the family, men have power in
making decision and the women have control of housework. 
?@?@?@?@I had encountered to see the different aspects of gender role in two societies.
These two societies have their own values and beliefs that keep the man and the women
different. However, the role of man is somewhat similar, though women have no
similarities in a large scale. In Japan, women are considered to be gentle, modest, marry
and take up housekeeping, support the entire family in any circumstances, and always
graceful. One of the differences between two societies is the role of women at work.
Japanese women who work at the firm are called ?gOL,?h which is the abbreviation of
?goffice lady.?h Their role at the company is occupied with routine business such as
making copies, serving green teas, go on an errand, cleaning up the desks, and throwing
out the trash. This is the cultural norm of Japanese society. Women are not assigned to
do jobs that carry responsibilities and efforts. They are not considered to be liable for
important tasks. 
Also, the role of women in the family is not considered to be important as men?fs. Most
of the families in Japan have very domineering husbands. Women do all the housework
without the help from men. Women also do not have the control over money matter. On the
other hand, the American culture considers women as equals to men. Women at work have
their own offices, men and women share their roles in the family, and they both have
control over money matter. These two societies have the norm that has been changing over
the decades. Women?fs role has changed. However, portray of women is somewhat typical and
remains the same in a sense.
I believe that men and women are fundamentally the same and that all differences are the
result of conditioning. Each of us is an individual, of course. The point is that
femininity is something real. It is not something cooked up by society. It is no a
cultural or historical accident. It is part of what we are. It is what makes us women
rather than men, and if we prefer women to men, it is the thing we prefer.