Femininity: Encyclopedia II - Femininity - Femininity in men

Femininity - Femininity in men

In circumstances such as prison where men are segregated from women, a fraction of the population will nevertheless divide according to persistent female principles, either voluntarily or through coercion. An effeminate man exhibits what Jung called the anima, the subconscious feminine psychological factors within all males. However, feminine traits that society finds admirable or at least views as neutral in women (such as "womanish tears") have traditionally been viewed more negatively when expressed by men.

Men who identify as transsexuals suffer from gender dysphoria; they feel they truly have a woman's psyche but were born as the wrong sex. Transvestites dress in women's clothing as an expression of their homosexuality or due to a sexual fetish. Drag queens, who are commonly gay but may also be heterosexual, express an exaggerated femininity as part of their role play. However, they tend to emphasize only those traits which make a woman attractive to a man, rather than those which promote the nuturing and development of children and families.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Femininity in men", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki