Thursday, August 25, 2011

While we're on the subject



Being male traditionally means physically having male sexual characteristics.

Being masculine means having behavioral traits or an appearance traditionally associated with maleness.

Being manly means having the virtuous subset of behavioral traits or an appearance traditionally associated with maleness.

...

Being female traditionally means physically having female sexual characteristics.

Being feminine means having behavioral traits or an appearance traditionally associated with femaleness.

Is there a word for the feminine equivalent of manliness, or is femininity made to do double duty, with the element of approval implied by context?
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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 25, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    I think calling a female a 'Ladylike' covers the same territory as manly. YMMV

    woerm/THR

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  2. elmo iscariotAugust 25, 2011 at 4:15 PM

    Good point. I like it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. DrangAugust 26, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. DrangAugust 26, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    Girls? (Running for cover...)

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousAugust 27, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    "Womanly" is a wonderful word that was killed-off by post modern feminism.

    "Moxie" (or Moxy) is, sadly, also archaic. while men have "balls," woman had "moxie."

    However, it seems Moxie can be gender neutral.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ian ArgentAugust 28, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    woerm/THR nailed it

    ReplyDelete

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