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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

What Does It Mean To Be Feminine?

What do you think makes a woman feminine? What is your definition of femininity?

17 comments:

whirligigdaisy said...

I think it is a lot about being nurturing and being in tune to what people's needs are and then being brave enough to fill those needs.

Liz said...

Hi! My name is Liz. I found you blog last month and have only now been able to comment on it! I was so inspired by your 10 days to modesty series. Thank you for posting it. When are you having another Modest Fashion show? I would love to participate in it! It looked like so much fun! :D

Femininity is more then dressing like a woman. It also has to do with your character. I often associate it with Biblical Womanhood. Though it is not the same :)

Conny said...

Great question/topic! Growing up in a super conservative church, I thought to be feminine was to wear a dress/skirt and be "meek and quiet" (ie. outward appearance)....well, I grew up & wasn't naturally meek or quiet. Met my husband - and the women in his family were so godly AND feminine - but wore PANTS. I have since studied the Bible on the topic - and I think femininity is an attitude of the HEART! Any personality can be feminine if the heart attitude is seeking to please the Lord based on what He has asked a godly woman to be, based on the words of Titus, Ephesians, etc.

Heathahlee said...

I agree with Conny...it's an attitude of the heart. I have a girl in my Bible Study class whose attitude of "You can't tell me what to do and I don't care if this book tells me I should be submissive, I'm not going to" combined with her personality gives her a definitely non-feminine persona. I guess I can tell you more about what's not feminine that what I think is.

Btw, this woman doesn't have a chance at keeping that attitude, because there are SO many people praying for her! (She just needs Jesus!) : )

Beth Herring said...

An attitude of graciousness. Being a woman in the true sense of the word. Allowing Christ to manifest his glory through us.

Beth

Reborn said...

I think Hathahlee nailed it-- being feminine is about being willing to be a support, being willing to serve, and being willing to submit. It is non me-centered.

That is what the original woman was created for-- as a helpmeet/assistant to Adam. It is when we embrace and relish that important role that we are most feminine. I do think it's ok to be strong and capable, but we cannot be independant.

We should recognize that we NEED God, and we NEED our husbands' guidance and direction. We are not fish and men are not bicycles!

Gina said...

I love what Reborn said, it's about our role-what we were created for. It's complex for sure-God created us to be a helpmeet (literally it's translated lifesaver). There's a fierceness and a warrior like quality that we were created with, to fight for others.

But also we were created to nuture and to love, to invite others in-to use our beauty (we've all got it) to draw others to God. Embracing those roles is what it's about, not about clothing or external things.

Valencia Jones-Edwards said...

I think that it means to have a heart that is soft, sweet, comforting etc. God gave women a role in the world and we should follow it. It has little to do with dress, but more with what God has placed on your heart.

Isabel said...

When God created us He made us into His image and likeness: that is male and female together complete one another because together, as a unit, they represent God's image. (GEN 1: 27). Thus femininity is really being a female according to God's intentions, to reflect a part of His character. I'd make a distinction between the characteristics of femininty and the role (assigned by God, not society) of a female. I like what the other commentaters said. I'd just add that surely one of the most important role for a female is that of giving life, not only by giving birth! But this comment has gotten too long! Sorry.

Christin said...

I actually have a post about this that I wrote before the holidays....here's the link incase you're interested. :)
http://christinnjon.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/548/

Anonymous said...

Hmmm not sure if that link will work. But if you type "feminism" into the search box, a couple posts pop up. The one I was talking about is called Femininity vs. Feminism :)

Amanda Jo said...

HeathahLee and Reborn said it well!!! I've done A LOT of research on this lately and have got some great insight.

See, this world sees worth in terms of what we do, in our roles so to speak...while from a Biblical stand point worth is based on whose image we were created in: God's! It's not based on what we're called to do - we're all worth the same in Christ's eyes.

We were all worth His sacrifice on the Cross - not because of what we do or what our roles are but because of His Grace!

Anonymous said...

Not being "CATTY" as women can be with their mouths!
Disrespecting or just plain gossiping is tres immodest!

Unknown said...

I think it's already been said so well by everybody else! I think being feminine is being a godly woman - inside and out.

Lilly's Home Journal said...

For myself...the more I read God's Word and the closer I am to His heart...the more feminine I become. Because we find who we are and were meant to be, in HIM!

Love your blog...so glad to have found you.

Blessings on you and that little life you are carrying!

Lilly

Jaime said...

With motherhood comes femininity. One's true feminine side shows in many ways starting with the natural glow of being pregnant. The year's following naturally bring out the mom,daughter,wife,cook,maid, sister, and friend in all of us. God Bless you all ....

Twinkle Toes said...

I had a friend that went to a conference and there she went to a workshop on being feminine. They said that it is being humble enough to receive. We are created to receive physically, and emotionally. We receive from the Father, and from there we can pour out.