‘When a woman toys with masculine tailoring, she’s “power dressing” — the term itself reveals that the archetype of aspirational masculinity still lingers. Men are still told to “man up” and, although these are small factors, they underline the reasons that female masculinity is largely more accepted than male femininity — which is, clearly, the reason that Zara’s range consists solely of basics that are already staples of the male wardrobe.’
I am sorry to say, but for a woman to use stereotypical male clothing is “dressing up”. For a man to wear anything remotely feminine is inviting invalidation and ridicule.
This is how a most likely well-intended, progressive, campaign like the one of Zara reinforces the gender stereoypes.
Much of transphobia found on the male to female side is rooted in our culture’s disdain for femininity and feminine expressions. This femme phobia applies to all femmes: straight cis-women, lesbian women, gay men and trans people of all genders.
Femme shaming is yet another way our society keeps women and gender variant people in check.
People who should know better, like radical feminists, play the “feminine is a sexist stereotype” card with great enthusiasm, while at the same time embracing masculine gender stereotypes with gusto.
Muscles and leather are apparently not sexist, high heels and cleavage are.
To me this reflects a deep rooted misogyny that permeates our whole culture.
Femininity is a sign of weakness (or something worse)
This becomes especially difficult for those male to female transgender people who feel feminine and who want to express that femininity.
They are immediately dismissed as sexist, not in the same way as feminine non-transgender women, mind you (as ”sluts”, “airheads” or “bimbos”, depending on to what extent they express their sexuality) but dismissed all the same (as ”effeminate gay men” and “heterosexual perverts”).
It does not matter that “we all know” that a feminine gender expression in a woman does not equal fragility, weakness or promiscuity. Even in the most gender conscious among us the social dismissal of the feminine often takes over: We make the same mistake over and over again: Femininity equals female equals weak equals powerless and pathetic.
Sexism and radical feminism
This tendency has been strengthened by the curse of post-structuralist philosophy; the idea that gender is nothing but a performance, a social construct with no deep roots in personality. Or, at least, this is how such a philosophy is presented by extremist militants.
Presenting as feminine is therefore a moral choice and a bad one. Butch is good, femme is bad.
Safira Anouk, a a two spirit native American artist and radical femme. makes the following observation over at Harlot Media:
“Femme-shaming oppresses not only women, but any gender-variant person who doesn’t equate their personal empowerment to masculine presentation. This brutal way of thinking stratifies people into a kyriarchal caste system according to their biological sex, forcing them into corresponding boxes of gender norms; arbitrarily socializing people in ways that betray their authentic selves.”
Yes, this radical feminist actually believes there is such a thing as an “authentic self”, and that this personality core is not just a mirage of gender symbols and semiotics.
I am certain she is right. Much of the suffering trans and queer people experience is because they are not allowed to be themselves, express themselves and be affirmed as themselves. Saying that there is no “self” does not help at all.
Anouk strongly defends her right to be femme:
“My choice to wear long nails may be partly influenced by the way that I was socialized, and it may also coincide with misogynist expectations of women, however it is my choice which I made through thoughtful analysis of pros and cons. In this case I chose in favour of my own aesthetic preference, knowing full well that they can be impractical and invite unwanted attention from disapproving feminists and chauvinist trolls alike.”
Gay femme-phobia
The gay male culture has also become increasingly femme-phobic. Looking “straight” or even more straight than “straight” is the ideal. The six-pack is the new norm.
Over at iD Scottee Scottee, a femme queen, draws attention to femme-shaming and the need to fight back against gay-on-gay prejudice:
“Lets entertain Russell and Daniel’s rhetoric that effeminacy is somehow performed – then surely this means their beloved masculinity is also a performed action?
My limp wrist, higher intonation and penchant for an ASOS blouse is not, contrary to popular belief a received action, I’m just being the person I feel I am.
Granted when I’m wearing eight inches of foundation and covering myself in confetti perhaps this is a heightened version of my femme identity, but there’s an argument here that this is only deemed outré because of the rules of gender our aforementioned attention seekers adhere to and enforce; perhaps we often try to be louder because we want to be heard. To paraphrase a Stonewall campaign slogan – some people are camp, get over it.”
Femme shaming reinforces the fear of femininity in people assigned male
For me femme shaming is yet another attempt by both religious, feminist and LGBT extremist to force the rest of the world to live to up to their ideals of restricted and puritan lives. It reflects centuries of sexual repression of women, the denial of female sexuality and a dismissal of the pride women may take in their bodies and souls.
It also turns the natural and healthy desire to celebrate yourself through clothing and appearance into something pathological. Above all: It reinforces the cultural fear of femininity in people assigned male at birth.
Give room for diverse gender expressions
I may disagree with Caitlyn Jenner when it comes to parts of her politics, but I will never reduce her desire to appear feminine to a result of social conditioning. It reflects a genuine part of herself that is now, finally, given room to breathe.
The fact that femme shaming has become a concept gives me hope. This means that we can finally see and do something about this kind of oppression.
