Feminin

Feminin, commonly encountered in discussions of gender as a linguistic or cultural category, refers to attributes, behaviors, and roles traditionally associated with women or the female sex. In everyday language, femininity denotes a set of norms about how women should look, act, and relate to others, though these norms vary across cultures and historical periods.

In linguistics and grammar, 'feminin' is used to describe the feminine gender or form in languages that mark gender on nouns and adjectives. While the English term 'feminine' is more widely used, some linguistic traditions refer to 'the feminine' or 'feminin' as a grammatical category, such as in discussions of noun classes or inflection.

Historical and cultural analyses show that the content of femininity is not universal. Across societies, femininity has encompassed ideals such as gentleness, nurturance, modesty, or aesthetic sensibility, but these ideals have often reflected power relations and social expectations rather than any fixed essence.

Feminist theory and gender studies treat femininity as a social construct that can be performed or negotiated. The concept is therefore subject to change with shifts in politics, economy, media representation, and intersubjective norms. The recognition of gender diversity has produced critiques of rigid femininity and increased attention to alternative expressions and identities, including nonbinary perspectives.

Contemporary discussions increasingly use the plural form 'feminities' to acknowledge multiple, overlapping expressions shaped by race, class, sexuality, disability, and culture. The term is also relevant in debates about beauty standards, caregiving labor, and the representation of women in public life and media.

See also: femininity, gender, gender roles, gender expression, feminism, transgender and nonbinary identities.