Feminine way of thinking - is it normal to feel offended?

Is it normal that although I am female I would feel offended if someone told me that my way of thinking is feminine - even if it wasn't meant demeaningly and even if it was said with a good intention?

Fortunately, nobody has ever said that to me. If it was said as a sexist joke to me by a person who doesn't mean it seriously at all, it might be fine but otherwise I would view such "accusations" as insults even if they were said with a good intention.

is it normal that it would be one of the biggest insults for me?

completely understandable that you'd feel that way (I'm female) 16
not normal to find it insulting if it was meant good (I'm female) 11
completely understandable that you'd feel that way (I'm male) 14
not normal to find it insulting if it was meant good (I'm male) 19
Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!
[ Report Post ]
Comments ( 20 )
  • bananaface

    Why? Do you think men or better or something so being feminine would be an insult, or is just the labelling itself that bothers you?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • It is not the labelling itself that would bother me in this case.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • understandable male here. yeah

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • shade_ilmaendu

    Yeah, I think I would be. For a long time I refused to even wear skirts or makeup or do anything to make myself appear feminine, because I don't want to seem weak or illogical to people.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • SuperBenzid

    Of course you would be offended if someone implied you thought badly...

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • Obviously, your way of thinking is not feminine because you are among those few people who have understood my post correctly so far. If a man interpretes my original post as a problem of labelling, he must be totally brainwashed by feminist ideology.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • howaminotmyself

    Without much context, I would assume they meant I was nurturing. I would take that as a compliment.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • ccjigsaw

    Reminds me of the comedian I was watching the other day. No one gets offended by positive racism! Sure "Hey that black guy over there, watch out, he'll steal your wallet." Gets a lot of negative feedback. RACISSTT!! "Black men have big penis's." That's a whole different story.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • dodongos

    I understand that I am very effeminate, meaning I like very delicate and "girly" stuff, and also am a very sensitive timid person. Someone told me once that I cannot have feminine qualities because God made all men with masculine qualities. I just have empathy for females.
    Is this offensive to anyone else?

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • q25t

      A little bit, yeah.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • dom180

    I guess if someone said I had a masculine way of thinking I would think they were either stereotyping me or presuming the way I thought had anything to do with my gender. So I can see how you could be offended.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • It is not the labelling that would bother me.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
        -
      • dom180

        What is it about it that bothers you? If you told us we'd be able to give more useful answers instead of repeating each other.

        Comment Hidden ( show )
          -
        • I didn't realize that my original post could be interpreted as a mere aversion to labelling or using terms such as "maskuline" and "feminine" to describe people's behavior, their way of thinking, etc. when I was writing my original post - if I had realized it, I would have been more specific and I would have decribed what I meant in more detail. Now I can see that my post is ambiguous - the ambiguity can be seen quite well in bananaface's question in her comment. Unfortunately, I thought it was quite clear from what I had written in my original post that I look down on the typically feminine way of thinking. Obviously, some users understood what I meant correctly but I admit that it is my fault that not everybody did so.

          Comment Hidden ( show )
  • bemah

    I don't really care, i mean I'm female, so of course the way i think is going to be feminine. Makes sense doesn't it.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Terence_the_viking

    Over 9000 people are offended in the same way all the time.

    Just believe what you believe and don't let anyone get in your way.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • NeuroNeptunian

      YEAH
      Hitler did it and now he's famous!

      Comment Hidden ( show )
  • Sailor_Cosmos

    Sadly, femininity in our society is still seen as weak and not worthy of true respect. Sure there have been major,major advancements thanks to the feminist movement, but men still have this superiority complex.

    There is nothing wrong with being a feminine woman. Females have so much strength and are such diverse brilliant beautiful nurturing creatures! Sadly, I understand why you were offended, especially if it was said as a sexist joke.

    Comment Hidden ( show )
      -
    • I guess you misunderstood me...

      You wrote: "Sadly, I understand why you were offended, especially if it was said as a sexist joke."

      However, in my original post, I clearly stated that:
      1. Fortunately, NOBODY has ever said that to me.
      2. If it was said as a SEXIST JOKE to me by a person who doesn't mean it seriously at all, it might be FINE... (but OTHERWISE I would view such "accusations" as insults even if they were said with a good intention.

      In addition, I don't care that much how femininity is seen in our society. The reason why I would feel offended has NOTHING to do with the position of women in society - it is MY PERSONAL view of feminine way of thinking which would lead to those feelings. To say it explicitly, I despise the way of thinking which is considered to be typically feminine and I have a strong impression that a mojority of women (or people who think in a similar way) have trouble to understand things and their way of thinking is a far cry from what could be called logical.

      Comment Hidden ( show )
        -
      • Sailor_Cosmos

        Sorry I misread your posting...my fault...but nonetheless, it doesnt take away from my point.

        You may think it is just your personal beliefs, but logically speaking we live a society and are conditioned through the media and through the way our parents raised us and (sometimes) through our religious beliefs that the female mind and they way it process information is inferior to that of our male counterparts. We form our opinions and belief systems based on the information we receive from outside sources and we draw conclusions based on that. So no matter which way you cut it, your beliefs, my beliefs, everyone's beliefs are take root in what we have been exposed to and taught.

        Women and men, as you know are biologically very different creature, and have different thought processes and different ways of dealing with problems. Women for instance, usually have the need to verbalize their thoughts since we typically have more thoughts than men and need to organize them verbally.We are also more emotional than Men. Men on the other hand, they tend to categorize things and have the ability to think of one particular thing at a time.

        Men have perpetuated this myth, however, that we women are emotional basket cases who dont know how to problem solve. This myth has spread through out society and therefore, the female thought pattern and way or dealing with things is seen by both men and women alike to be an inferior way of thinking with no real logic, when in fact this is simply not true. It all has to do with perception. For instance we women tend to think that talking things out with our male partners when we have an issue and to address the issue right away and to talk about we each other "feels" is the best way of dealing with a problem. However, male minds would much rather mull the situation over on their heads and solve the issue as if it were a math problem than talk about it. Does that mean that his way of thinking and problem solving is superior to that of a woman's...not at all. It just the right way for HIM to solve and understand the problem at hand. Just as it is the right way for women to problem solving by verbalizing their thoughts and taking about the emotions they feel. Emotions are a great indicator of what is wrong with a situation and discussing feels or emotions help women understand theor won thoughts and why they are feeling the way they feel better. The reason why men have perpetuated this myth that their though process is superiors is because they REALLY DONT GET HOW FEMALE MINDS WORK AND THEY DONT KNOW HOW TO RELATE TO WOMEN. We live in a male dominated society, whether or not we like to admit it and there is still a lot of female oppression and disregard for how intelligent women actually are. In short, they have succeeded in you feeling contempt for your own sex. Remember its all about perception. Whats works for men most often than not will not work for women, that doesnt mean the way a woman thinks is inferior.

        Comment Hidden ( show )