Years ago, I wrote a post titled “Why It’s Okay To Be a Girly Girl.” To this day, it’s one of my most read posts and I still get so many comments, emails and DMs from others who have felt the same way. There are many people out there that have felt afraid to express who they are because they’ve been made fun of by others for embracing that side of themselves. For whatever reason, femininity tends to be unpopular and looked down on in today’s society. As a result, there are quite a few myths and misconceptions about femininity floating around out there. Today, I’m sharing the truth about what femininity is and what it isn’t.
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Myths and Misconceptions About Femininity
Feminine People Can Only Wear Pink and Dresses
This is totally false! You can be feminine and not wear (or even like) pink or dresses! Personally I loveeee wearing dresses but they are not for everyone and that’s completely okay! It doesn’t make you any less feminine. And when it comes to pink, there are plenty of girly girls out there that wear colors other than pink. Colors are only a portion of feminine dressing. Styling and other design elements like like fit, embellishments and overall design can impact how feminine a garment is. Check out this post for tips on how to look feminine without wearing pink!
Feminine People Are Weak
I have heard this more times than I can count and honestly, I hate how people stereotype girly girls as being super sensitive and overly emotional. Femininity does NOT make you weak! As people, we all have different qualities – we don’t fit into a mold and we don’t have to justify our style because of outside judgements. There are so many strong ladies out there that are feminine! In fact, I feel like being feminine is my super power. It makes me feel confident, beautiful and authentic – and I love sharing this with all of you because so many people are afraid of embracing their femininity due to the perceptions of others. Honestly, I feel like this has a lot to do with how femininity has been portrayed in the past in media and in the movies. Feminine people can embrace masculine qualities like being independent, successful, and ambitious while also embracing and loving their feminine qualities as well.
Feminine People Are Immature
Femininity is often seen as immature and juvenile. Of course, there are certain prints, colors and design elements that can convey a more juvenile look but their are also items and ways to style yourself to look feminine, elegant and age appropriate. Girly girls can also be seen as overly sweet and some people can take this as being juvenile. However, being sweet is a personality trait, it’s not a fashion choice. And since people make judgements about someone’s maturity through fashion, there are people out there that feel like they have to put on a rough exterior and can’t truly be themselves.
Feminine People Have To Be Rich
This also another misconception that I hear often. People assume that in order to look nice and dress well, you must spend a lot of money. You can absolutely look feminine, stylish and put together on a budget. In my opinion, being feminine has nothing to do with being rich. Being feminine is a style and mindset – it’s not about how much money you have and how much you can spend on your clothing. When it comes to dressing feminine, it’s important to look for certain feminine silhouettes, colors and design details on clothing items within your budget. For tips on how to look expensive on a budget, check out this video!
Feminine People Are Superficial And Materialistic
A lot of people tend to think that feminine people are superficial and materialistic and this couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, we love clothing and beautiful things but that doesn’t mean we are tying our worth to our wardrobe and that our closet is all that we care about. For many people, myself included, it’s a creative outlet and an expressive of who we are. In terms of superficiality, people are so keen to make judgements against women that dress feminine when they are just being authentic to themselves.
Feminine People Are Not Intelligent
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had my intelligence questioned based on the way that I dress. I feel like this is another point that has a lot to do with the media and how femininity is portrayed in movies and the like. Girly girls are always seen are less intelligent than other characters. However, contrary to popular belief, you CAN be feminine AND smart. You can be smart and want to look good…and want to do your hair and makeup…. and wear pink. Femininity has absolutely nothing to do with your intelligence level – they not related whatsoever.
Feminine People Are Fake and Have No Personality
For whatever reason, society tends to paint feminine people as fake and shallow with no personality. Just like with other styles, there are so many feminine people out there that have amazing personalities. In fact, I feel like if someone is genuinely feminine and they are brave enough to embrace their style, then they are being their authentic selves and they shouldn’t be punished or made fun of for that. In my opinion, it’s never okay to make judgements about other people based on how they choose to express themselves through fashion (feminine or not).
Feminine People MUST Have Traditionally Feminine Hobbies Or Jobs
People tend to assume that feminine people can ONLY work in a traditionally feminine career field and take part in traditionally feminine hobbies. This one makes me laugh because it’s just so crazy! People can have different interests and different blends of personality traits and still be considered feminine. For example, I see myself as a very feminine person but I love playing guitar, camping, hiking, building things, etc. All of these are seen as more masculine things. However, we ALL possess both feminine and masculine traits (which I feel is important to be a well balanced person) – you do not have only engage in traditionally feminine activities to be seen as feminine.
Outfit Details
White Chicwish Top c/o | Kathy C Vang Floral Skirt c/o | Lack of Color Scalloped Hat | Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick | Halo Hair Extension (use LIZZIEINLACE for $25 off!)
Femininity Is Only For Certain People
Some people think that femininity is only for certain people when in reality, it is for anyone who identifies with and feels drawn to it. Although many feminine people like to express their femininity through clothing, femininity is actually a mindset and attitude – it’s the core of who you are regardless of gender, age, background, race, or wealth. We shouldn’t feel like we have to hide that aspect of ourselves out of fear of not belonging.
The short answer to all of this is… to be yourself. Embrace who you authentically are and don’t give in to the opinions of others. At the end of the day, it shouldn’t matter what people think about you and how you dress. All that matters is what YOU think of you. This is where true happiness lies <3
For an even more in depth look into the myths and misconceptions about femininity, watch the video below!
Have you ever been judged on the way you dress?
Do you have any myths or misconceptions to share?
xo
