On the Power of Femininity

Growing up, I associated my very feminine attributes with feelings of shame. As I blossomed into adolescence, I could sense that my parents were uncomfortable if I wore anything too short that bared too much skin or anything too tight that showed off my developing curves. They were hesitant to let me foray into various forms of self-grooming, such as waxing my legs or wearing make-up. But as I grew older, I realized that what I felt was a projection of shame on me was actually a deep-seated fear of the power of my feminine attributes and the potential ripple effect of that very power. It was never really about me, but about how others might be impacted by my femininity, and how that might cause them to perceive or react to me.

When we encounter feminine women, we label them in many ways — pretty, cute, sexy, charming, beautiful, adorable, or lovely. But there’s one word we rarely use to describe them — and that is powerful. And I would argue that our femininity is exactly that — a very powerful trait that women possess, and one that can be finessed, harnessed, utilized, and enjoyed. And it definitely is not a trait that should be shamed, dimmed, or trivialized. I’m sure we all can remember a time when we strutted into a room aglow in our feminine power and felt the energy shift, heads turn, or conversations slow. And no, you didn’t just imagine that, there is literal power when we bask in our feminine glory. So much power in fact that some countries and cultures have made it their business to suppress that power by enforcing female dress codes and curbing female freedom to live as we please.

Our feminine power can be manifested in many ways — the way we dress, walk, talk, smile, or do our make-up and hair. I simply urge you to remember, next time you put on a pair of leg-defining high heels, or red lipstick, or a figure-hugging dress, you are not simply being cute, adorable, and lovely — you are being powerful. So strut like you know it!