How do YOU define masculinity and/or femininity?

Mr. Mopery · 07-06-2003, 08:50 AM

Just curious. It's not really an easy thing to do, I think, unless you directly compare men to women.

In fact, do you think you could describe masculine behaviour without a feminine foil?

Either way, what do you think?

Stormymystic · 07-06-2003, 09:27 AM

have no clue

Legolas · 07-06-2003, 10:34 AM

Only on a hormonal level

Attalus · 07-06-2003, 10:52 AM

Masculinity: possessing an XY genotype

Feminity: possessing an XX genotype

All else is cultural. Well, except an excessive interest in shoes.

Gangrell · 07-06-2003, 11:36 AM

Can you be more specific on what you're asking?

Legolas · 07-06-2003, 12:12 PM

Now now Att, you're forgetting that the presence of testosteron during the foetal stage will change what would genetically be a female into something looking and acting like a man, and that a lack of it in one with the Y chromosome will do exactly the opposite.

Zero Alpha · 07-06-2003, 12:48 PM

Masculinity: constant urge to have sex and destroy things

Reeka · 07-06-2003, 01:56 PM

I have to agree with Attalus. Male and Female are genetically determined but masculinity and femeninity is a societal convention and perception. Now saying that, I do believe that hormones contributed to some traits in males and females. I believe that testoterone makes males "tends" to be more aggressive; estrogen "tends" to make females more nuturinb. But that is just a tendency, not engraved in stone and we all know vest exceptions to this.

Much the same with male and female "roles." What ti hell is a female or male role? Just things that society has decided should be. They should just be "people roles."

Lavindathar · 07-06-2003, 07:46 PM

It is all social.

I've got both ears pierced, my left one twice (once at the bottom once at the top), now in England having the right ear pierced is meant to be a sign of being gay. So i get some stick from it, and I also wear some gay-ish clothes, (vests, light blue stuff), and I have a tattoo on the bottom of my back, which is considered a womans place. So all in all, my attributes make me very feminine.

But I've had enough ladies to last me a lifetime, and am now happily settled down with the current one.

And never a single gay experiance.

So you cant judge it, you'd probably be wrong.

Zero Alpha · 07-06-2003, 08:34 PM

sofar as i can see socitiy has got it all wrong. steriotypes should not be enforced by taunting or such as it is upto each person to decide what they will be. eg the right ear ring thing is totaly an english (maby american) steriotype. im sure in other cultures the more earings a bloke has in either ear the better. masculinity and femininty are also steriotypes for kinds of men and women. just because a woman learns to box would make her 'mascuine' even thoough in reality she may still be the most efeminate woman you ever met. and of corse in reality weather she is either shouldnt matter, as only who *she* specifiacly is should matter.

summary: its the person that matters not the steriotype

(not bad for 1:30 am) [img]graemlins/goodmorning.gif[/img]

07-06-2003, 08:50 AM	#1
Mr. Mopery Zhentarim Guard Join Date: December 13, 2001 Location: Warsaw Age: 48 Posts: 328	Just curious. It's not really an easy thing to do, I think, unless you directly compare men to women. In fact, do you think you could describe masculine behaviour without a feminine foil? Either way, what do you think? __________________ Never argue with a woman who\'s holding your schmeckle...

07-06-2003, 09:27 AM	#2
Stormymystic Knight of the Rose Join Date: April 8, 2003 Location: Arkansas Age: 48 Posts: 4,442	have no clue __________________ [url]\"http://stormymystic.deviantart.com/gallery/\" target=\"_blank\"> [img]\"http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/3968/stormyvx6.jpg\" alt=\" - \" /></a>

07-06-2003, 10:52 AM	#4
Attalus Symbol of Bane Join Date: November 26, 2001 Location: Texas Age: 75 Posts: 8,167	Masculinity: possessing an XY genotype Feminity: possessing an XX genotype All else is cultural. Well, except an excessive interest in shoes. __________________ Even Heroes sometimes fail...

07-06-2003, 12:48 PM	#7
Zero Alpha Avatar Join Date: July 15, 2002 Location: London, England Age: 39 Posts: 506	Masculinity: constant urge to have sex and destroy things __________________ \"RTFM\"<br />\"No i will NOT fix your computer\"<br />\"All\'s fair in sibling war\"

07-06-2003, 01:56 PM	#8
Reeka Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: March 2, 2001 Location: Birmingham, Alabama, USA Age: 70 Posts: 3,255	I have to agree with Attalus. Male and Female are genetically determined but masculinity and femeninity is a societal convention and perception. Now saying that, I do believe that hormones contributed to some traits in males and females. I believe that testoterone makes males "tends" to be more aggressive; estrogen "tends" to make females more nuturinb. But that is just a tendency, not engraved in stone and we all know vest exceptions to this. Much the same with male and female "roles." What ti hell is a female or male role? Just things that society has decided should be. They should just be "people roles." __________________ <b>Order of the Holy Flame</b><br /><i>Member of Clan HADB</i><br /><b>Laughing Hyena</b><br /><i>Clan Liaison, IW Peace Keeping Force</i><br /><i>[url]\"http://www.the-silver-river.com/Forum/index.php?board=29\" target=\"_blank\">The Silver River VoiceChat!</a><br />Last Saturday of every month. <br />See the forum link for scheduling!<br /><b> </b><br /></i><br /><b>Admin and Co-Owner of [url]\"http://www.the-silver-river.com\" target=\"_blank\">The Silver River</a></b><br />[url]\"http://www.the-silver-river.com\" target=\"_blank\"></a>

07-06-2003, 10:34 AM	#3
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 39 Posts: 5,459	Only on a hormonal level

07-06-2003, 11:36 AM	#5
Gangrell Iron Throne Cult Join Date: January 2, 2003 Location: Big Castle in the Sky Age: 36 Posts: 4,835	Can you be more specific on what you're asking?

07-06-2003, 12:12 PM	#6
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 39 Posts: 5,459	Now now Att, you're forgetting that the presence of testosteron during the foetal stage will change what would genetically be a female into something looking and acting like a man, and that a lack of it in one with the Y chromosome will do exactly the opposite.

07-06-2003, 07:46 PM	#9
Lavindathar Harper Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Lancs, England Age: 39 Posts: 4,729	It is all social. I've got both ears pierced, my left one twice (once at the bottom once at the top), now in England having the right ear pierced is meant to be a sign of being gay. So i get some stick from it, and I also wear some gay-ish clothes, (vests, light blue stuff), and I have a tattoo on the bottom of my back, which is considered a womans place. So all in all, my attributes make me very feminine. But I've had enough ladies to last me a lifetime, and am now happily settled down with the current one. And never a single gay experiance. So you cant judge it, you'd probably be wrong. __________________ =@

07-06-2003, 08:34 PM	#10
Zero Alpha Avatar Join Date: July 15, 2002 Location: London, England Age: 39 Posts: 506	sofar as i can see socitiy has got it all wrong. steriotypes should not be enforced by taunting or such as it is upto each person to decide what they will be. eg the right ear ring thing is totaly an english (maby american) steriotype. im sure in other cultures the more earings a bloke has in either ear the better. masculinity and femininty are also steriotypes for kinds of men and women. just because a woman learns to box would make her 'mascuine' even thoough in reality she may still be the most efeminate woman you ever met. and of corse in reality weather she is either shouldnt matter, as only who she specifiacly is should matter. summary: its the person that matters not the steriotype (not bad for 1:30 am) [img]graemlins/goodmorning.gif[/img] __________________ \"RTFM\"<br />\"No i will NOT fix your computer\"<br />\"All\'s fair in sibling war\"

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