Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Femininity”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Idealised versus tainted femininity: discourses of the menstrual experience in Australian magazines that target young women.

Information and messages concerning health-related issues are not confined to material provided by official figures or sources. Much information exists in the community and comes from a variety of sources. One such source is the media. This paper reports the findings of a study conducted over a 12-month period of advertisements for menstrual products in a selection of four monthly Australian magazines (n = 48) directed towards young women. The study examined the way in which menstruation and the menstrual experience were depicted in terms of page space, textual content and visual images. Findings revealed that advertisements for menstrual products provided confusing, conflicting and paradoxical messages. These included stressing the normality of menstruation while also emphasising the importance of keeping it hidden and secret. Menstruation was depicted as being a state of tainted (idealised) femininity because of the potential for the menstrual silence to be shattered by people finding out. Protection failure was depicted as being the ultimate in tainted femininity and a result of a woman's incorrect choice of product. Choosing menstrual-care products was depicted as simple but, paradoxically, complex and confusing. Women were depicted as liberated and sophisticated but images and language related to infancy were used. Freedom and liberation were conferred by the use of the advertised product. Overall, in common with previous studies, menstruation was depicted as a crisis of hygiene that is a risk to femininity. Advertisements for pantyliners suggest that femininity itself poses a threat to (idealised) femininity. This study demonstrates the crucial role of the media as a source of health information for young women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Femininity control at the XXth Universiade in Kobe, Japan.

In 1985, we were in charge of the femininity control tests for the participants of the XXth Universiade in Kobe. At that time, we chose as screening tests checking both X chromatin from buccal mucous membrane and Y chromatin from hair roots. The number of female competitors who attended the Universiade, except tennis, gymnastics, and fencing, was 631. Among them, 108 had already had the certificate of femininity so we examined 523 female competitors. All but three of them were normal for femininity, i.e., X chromatin positive and Y chromatin negative. Two of the three exceptions were Y chromatin positive and X chromatin negative. Chromosomal analyses from their peripheral lymphocytes showed a pattern concordant with a 46,XY karyotype. The other was both X and Y chromatin positive, but we could find Y chromatin on only one slide out of three. Since this person refused to have a blood sample taken, we can only suppose her karyotype as being 46,XX/46,XY or 46,XX/47,XXY. This last case would not have been found, if we had checked only the X chromatin. From our experience, we conclude that for femininity control, it is safer to screen the Y chromatin. We would strongly advise the use of both X and Y chromatin tests for femininity control.

Female↗
PubMed1997

Self as the feminine principle.

In analytical psychology, ego is associated with consciousness and the masculine principle. Although the feminine principle generally characterizes the unconscious, it was not assigned a psychic structure equivalent to the ego. This paper proposes a model of the psyche where self and ego are the major modes of psychic experience. The self as the 'being' mode represents the feminine principle and functions according to primary process; the ego represents 'doing', the masculine principle and secondary process. Feminine and masculine principles are considered to be of equal significance in both men and women and are not limited to gender. Jung's concept of the self is related to the Hindu metaphysical concepts of Atman and Brahman, whose source was the older Aryan nature-oriented, pagan religion. The prominence of self in analytical psychology and its predominantly 'feminine' symbolism can be understood as Jung's reaction to the psychoanalytic emphasis on ego and to Freud's 'patriarchal' orientation. In Kabbalah, a similar development took place when the feminine principle of the Shekinah emerged in a central, redemptive role, as a mythic compensation to the overtly patriarchal Judaic religion. In the proposed model of the psyche neither ego nor self represents the psychic totality. The interplay of both psychic modes/principles constitutes the psyche and the individuation process.

Ego↗
PubMed1980

Independent CPI masculinity and femininity scales: psychological correlates and a sex-role typology.

The meanings of masculinity and femininity as measured by independent scales (MSC and FMN) on the CPi are explored, and a sex-role typology is constructed. The CPI and ACL were administered to 287 college students. Correlations of MSC and FMN with 18 CPI measures showed both masculinity and femininity to be positive traits. Masculinity included self-confidence, mental alertness, assertiveness, leadership, and poise; femininity included socialization, self-control, development of ethical standards, and emotional sensitivity. A sex-role typology was formed, based on joint MSC and FMN scores, and each sex-role type was described, based on its relationship with 18 measures on the CPI and 300 adjectives on the ACL. The typology showed that the high MSC/high FMN group described themselves in favorable terms. The low MSC/low FMN group appeared unhappy, somewhat withdrawn, and distrustful. The self-description of high MSC/low FMN and low MSC/high FMN groups corresponded to stereotypic views of masculinity and femininity, respectively. The similarity of these findings with research using different approaches suggests that consistent pictures of masculinity, femininity, and sex-role types are emerging.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1978

Attitudes toward homosexuality and femininity in men.

College students were asked to express their liking for a male stimulus person who was described as either heterosexual or homosexual and as masculine or feminine. Subjects disliked the homosexual man more than the heterosexual man, regardless of his gender attributes. Subjects did not, however, consistently dislike the feminine man more than the masculine man. The feminine heterosexual man was liked less than the masculine heterosexual man, but the feminine homosexual man was liked more than the masculine homosexual man. These results cast doubt on earlier notions that homosexual people are disliked because of their presumed inappropriate gender attributes. Instead, it appears that homosexual men are disliked even more if they violate the feminine stereotype. Reasons for this effect are proposed.

Attitude↗
PubMed1998

Femininity, bulimia, and distress in college women.

This study investigated differences in the scores on perceived Distress and Bulimia among college women with varying scores on the Behavioral Self-report of Femininity. Distress was assessed using The Psychological Distress Inventory and Bulimia was measured using the Bulimia Cognitive Distortions Scale. Women who reported low numbers of stereotypic feminine behaviors scored lower on the Bulimia Cognitive Distortions Scale than women reporting moderate to high numbers of stereotypic feminine behaviors. Distress scores were not significantly different between women scoring high and low on Bulimic Cognitive Distortions, and Bulimic Cognitive Distortion scores did not vary as a function of scores on Distress and Femininity. A multiple regression indicated that one factor of the Behavioral Self-report of Femininity, Social Connectedness, made a significant contribution to the prediction of Bulimia scores.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

[Femininity, masculinity, androgyny and eating behaviours].

BACKGROUND: There are marked gender differences in the attitudes towards eating behaviors. AIM: To compare gender identity traits among females with eating disorders and subjects of both sexes without eating disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An structured clinical interview based on the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for eating disorders, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) and the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) were administered to 119 female patients that fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa and/or eating disorders not otherwise specified (FCT group), 89 males (MST group) and 63 females (FST group) without eating disorders. RESULTS: The FCT group ranked significantly higher than the FST group on the EAT-40 and EDI and all its items (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between FST and MST groups. The FST group ranked significantly higher than the MST group on the Drive for thinness (p = 0.003) and Body dissatisfaction (p = 0.009). The MST group scored significantly higher than the FST group on Perfectionism (p = 0.020) and Interpersonal distrust (p = 0.008). The FCT group was significantly identified with Feminine and Masculine categories and the FST group with Androgynous and Undifferentiated categories on the BSRI (p = 0.001). Comparatively, the MST group was significantly identified with Masculine category and the FST group with Feminine category on the IBRS (p = < 0.001). All groups rejected and approved feminine, masculine and neutral qualities. The higher correlations were observed among feminine quality on the BSRI with the total score on the EAT-40 (r = 0.46). Drive for thinness (r = 0.51) and Body dissatisfaction (r = 0.41). DISCUSSION: Femininity emerged as the main trait of gender identity in patients with eating disorders, in contrast to androgyny showed by male and female subjects without eating disorders. Females without eating disorders were more motivated to achieve thinness and displayed more body dissatisfaction than males.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Prenatal gender preference of mothers of feminine and masculine boys: relation to sibling sex composition and birth order.

A mother's (prenatal) wish for a girl has, at times, been implicated as an etiological factor for boyhood femininity or its DSM-III-R diagnostic equivalent, the Gender Identity Disorder of Childhood. In one sample of 52 feminine and 52 nonclinical control boys from Los Angeles, the proportion of mothers who recalled a wish for a girl during the pregnancy did not differ significantly between groups (26.9% vs. 19.2%, respectively); however, in both groups, the maternal wish for a girl was significantly more common in sibships in which all of the proband's older siblings were male. In a second sample of 103 feminine boys from Toronto, the maternal wish for a girl was significantly higher than that found in the Los Angeles sample (43.7% vs. 26.9%), but a control group was not available; as in the Los Angeles sample, the maternal wish for a girl was significantly more common in sibships in which all of the proband's older siblings were male. Implications of these findings for further study of maternal influences on boyhood femininity are discussed.

Birth Order↗
PubMed2006

Vaginal douches and other feminine hygiene products: women's practices and perceptions of product safety.

OBJECTIVE: Use of vaginal douche products has been linked with a variety of reproductive health problems; nonetheless, the practice of douching persists. The goals of this study were to 1) determine the use of vaginal douches and other feminine hygiene products, 2) ascertain how safe women think vaginal douche products are, and 3) evaluate women's readiness to stop douching. METHODS: A random-digit-dial computer-assisted telephone survey was conducted among US women between the ages of 18 and 44. RESULTS: Of the 2,602 women interviewed, 11.8% (n = 307) engaged in regular douching (White: 9.1%; African American: 27.7%; Hispanic: 15.0%). Women who douched, compared to women who did not douche, used other feminine hygiene products significantly more often (vaginal sprays [ p < .0001], wipes/towelettes [ p < 0.01], vaginal powder [ p < 0.0001] and bubble bath for feminine cleansing [ p < 0.001]). Women who douched also were more likely than nondouchers to agree with the statement, "Douche products are safe to use; otherwise they wouldn't be on the market" (70.3% vs. 33.4%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Nearly all women (90.0%) who douched had no intention to discontinue the practice. CONCLUSION: Compared with women who do not douche, women who douche use other feminine hygiene products at a much higher rate and also believe that douche products are safe. Women who douche will remain resistant to stopping the practice without innovative interventions. Given that most women start douching in adolescence, teens should be targeted for prevention efforts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Role of septum and preoptic area in regulating masculine and feminine sexual behavior in male rats.

The effects of septal or preoptic lesions on both masculine and feminine sexual behaviors were examined in castrated adult male rats. Three weeks after brain surgery, animals were implanted with Silastic tubes containing testosterone (T) and observations of masculine sexual behavior were carried out four times every 5 days. T tubes were removed immediately after the end of the masculine behavioral tests. Two weeks later, animals implanted with Silastic tubes containing estradiol-17 beta(E2) were subjected to three feminine sexual behavioral tests at 5-day intervals. The bilateral lateral septal lesion (LSL) and the medial preoptic lesion (MPOL) effectively suppressed the performance of mounts, intromissions, and ejaculations, whereas the medial septal lesion (MSL), the dorsolateral preoptic lesion (DPOL), and the sham operation did not show any significant suppression of these behaviors. In the feminine sexual behavioral tests, intact and sham-operated control males showed only a low lordotic activity. However, the performance of the lordosis reflex was markedly facilitated by LSL or DPOL, while the lordotic activity of MSL and MPOL males was not significantly different from that of control males. These results suggest that the lateral septum exerts not only a facilitatory influence on masculine sexual behavior but also an inhibitory influence on feminine sexual behavior in male rats. On the other hand, the medial preoptic area may play a critical role in regulating masculine sexual behavior in male rats.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Masculinity-femininity predicts sexual orientation in men but not in women.

Using the nationally representative sample of about 15,000 Add Health respondents in Wave III, the hypothesis is tested that masculinity-femininity in adolescence is correlated with sexual orientation 5 years later and 6 years later: that is, that for adolescent males in 1995 and again in 1996, more feminine males have a higher probability of self-identifying as homosexuals in 2001-02. It is predicted that for adolescent females in 1995 and 1996, more masculine females have a higher probability of self-identifying as homosexuals in 2001-02. Masculinity-femininity is measured by the classical method used by Terman & Miles. For both time periods, the hypothesis was strongly confirmed for males: the more feminine males had several times the probability of being attracted to same-sex partners, several times the probability of having same-sex partners, and several times the probability of self-identifying as homosexuals, compared with more masculine males. For females, no relationship was found at either time period between masculinity and sex of preference. The biological mechanism underlying homosexuality may be different for males and females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Dimensions of psychological masculinity-femininity in adult twins from opposite-sex and same-sex pairs.

Male and female twins with opposite-sex co-twins were compared to twins with same-sex co-twins on three independent dimensions of masculinity-femininity, in order to examine the hypothesis that the hormones of the co-twin might have an effect on prenatal masculinization. The analysis was originally carried out for an older cohort from the Australian Twin Registry (2647 pairs, mean age 41.2), and then repeated in a younger cohort (1503 pairs, mean age 23.2). For women, the results on two of the three scales support and extend that of an earlier large study in Finland by Rose et al. (1994), who found no effect of sex of co-twin on feminine interests. One of the two scales contrasted worried and calm individuals, the other, confiding and reserved ones. The third scale, willingness to break or bend rules, showed a small effect of shared environmental influence, and it lay in the expected direction for a prenatal hormonal effect--females with a male co-twin scored higher (more like males). Most previous studies have not looked at the effect of sex of co-twin on males. The present study detected several such effects, although all were small in magnitude. The pattern was complex: sometimes the effect was in the masculine direction, sometimes in the feminine direction; sometimes there was agreement between the older and younger cohorts, sometimes not. Overall, the results suggest that no simple masculinization hypothesis--prenatal or postnatal--will adequately account for all the evidence. Age, sex, and aspect of masculinity-femininity must be taken into account.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

"Eating lightly" and the self-presentation of femininity.

In Experiment 1, male and female subjects were given an opportunity to snack as they participated in a "get-acquainted study" with a same-sex or opposite-sex partner (confederate) whose social desirability was manipulated. Consistent with the hypothesis that women may eat less when motivated to present themselves in a feminine light, female subjects ate significantly less with a desirable male partner than in the remaining three conditions. In contrast, male subjects did not eat more (or less) with a desirable woman, although they did show an overall tendency to eat less with female (vs. male) partners. In Experiment 2, female subjects snacked as they got acquainted with a desirable male partner (confederate). Before this interaction, subjects received feedback indicating that they had either very masculine or very feminine interests. In addition, subjects believed either that their male partner was aware of their gender feedback or that he was unaware. Consistent with predictions derived from Schlenker's (1982) analytic-identity theory of social conduct, subjects in the partner-aware conditions ate less when they had received masculine (vs. feminine) feedback, whereas subjects in the partner-unaware conditions ate less when they had received feminine (vs. masculine) feedback. Implications for understanding eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Role of femininity and masculinity in distressed couples' communication.

The relationship between sex role identity and marital communication of maritally distressed couples was examined. Interactional behavior of 60 maritally distressed couples was coded with the Marital Interaction Coding System and examined in relation to the level of femininity and masculinity of the spouses. Base-rate analyses indicated that femininity was positively related to greater rates of negative behavior among husbands and wives. As predicted, sequential analyses supported that wives' femininity was associated with greater negative reciprocity of the wives. Men's femininity was associated with husbands' tendency to terminate fewer negative sequences of behavior in comparison with their wives. High masculinity of the wives was associated with shorter sequences of negative behavior. Implications of the findings and future directions for research are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Masculine girls and feminine boys: genetic and environmental contributions to atypical gender development in early childhood.

In this genetic study of atypical gender role development, parents of 5,799 twin pairs, ages 3 and 4, rated their twin children's masculinity and femininity. Boys were selected as gender atypical if they were highly feminine (top 5%, 10%, or 15%) relative to other boys, and girls were selected if they were highly masculine relative to other girls. Gender-atypical boys and girls were each divided into 2 groups: fully gender atypical (e.g., feminine boys also low on masculinity) and partially gender atypical (e.g., feminine boys who are not low on masculinity). DeFries-Fulker (DF; J. C. DeFries & D. W. Fulker, 1985, 1988) extremes analysis yielded moderate group heritability and substantial shared environment effects for atypical gender role behavior. However, for fully gender-atypical girls, group heritability accounted for most of the variance, and shared environment had no effect. The results are discussed in light of past studies and potential implications for atypical gender development.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1993

Masculinity, femininity, and male scientists' self-esteem and self-acceptance.

In this study, I investigated differences in self-esteem, self-acceptance, masculinity, femininity, and locus of control among sample populations of men, including scientists, other professionals, college students, mental health clients, and perpetrators of domestic violence. The Personal Orientation Inventory (Shostrom, 1974), Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (Rotter, 1966), and Bem Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1974) were administered to subjects, together with a demographic data sheet. I used correlations to examine the relationship of masculinity, femininity and locus of control to self-esteem and self-acceptance and an analysis of variance to investigate differences between male scientists and other groups of men. Masculinity correlated with self-esteem for all but the student group, and internal locus of control correlated with self-esteem for all but the student and perpetrator groups. Self-acceptance correlated with masculinity for the client group and with internal locus of control for the student and client groups. I found no correlations with femininity. No significant differences existed between male scientists and other male professionals in self-esteem, masculinity, femininity, or locus of control. Self-acceptance scores were significantly lower for male scientists than for other male professionals.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Effect of gender role identity on patterns of feminine and self-concept scores from late pregnancy to early postpartum.

Relationships among gender role identity, feminine scores, self-concept, and perception of comfort in the mothering role were examined. Fifty-two primiparous and 21 multiparous women completed study questionnaires during the third trimester, 2 to 3 weeks postpartum, and 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. Low feminine gender role identity groups demonstrated the greatest change in feminine and self-concept scores over time. Differences in patterns emerged among the groups regarding size and significance of correlations between feminine and self-concept scores. Implications of findings for nursing practice and the study conceptual framework, as well as study limitations, are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Primary femininity: clinical advances and theoretical ambiguities.

This paper examines the use of the term "primary femininity" in current psychoanalytic thinking. The concept of primary femininity arose in reaction to early theories about female sexuality and development; based on a model of male development, these presented problems when applied to females. The author attempts to demonstrate the clinical advances that have resulted from the idea of primary femininity. At the same time she argues that the idea has been used to carry widely differing meanings, and has reflected many writers' differing frames of reference, which range from gender identity through biological traits, object relations, genital anxieties, and bisexuality. Like the terms it originally was intended to replace or augment, it has come to be used reductionistically or loosely. The author warns against its misuse and argues that primary femininity is not a unitary concept, but rather encompasses a related group of ideas about the female body and mind.

Anxiety↗