Do you think you have the regular feminine traits? Or, do you think that you have your own special blend that makes you especially unique?
Despite years of progression, it seems that society is still keen to fit women into a specific box with a label on it. The usual feminine traits are always pushed in our faces, whether we want to listen to them or not.
Maybe you don’t want to be defined by a box or a label. Perhaps you simply prefer to fly by the seat of your pants, be who you are, whatever that is, and refuse to adhere to so-called ‘norms.’
Do you know what that’s called? Bravery, and it’s admirable!
The most common feminine traits are considered to be things that all women must possess in order to be considered feminine, but what if you lack one?
Does that make you less of a woman? Do you even care if it does? And, has femininity changed from the days when these traits were considered the norm?
[Read: How to be yourself – Unfake your life and love being you]
We all have a world of choice and it’s a wonderful thing to consider. While certain corners of society might have failed to catch on yet, they will eventually.
For now, it’s simply a case of being the person you are, whether you exhibit masculine traits, feminine traits, or traits that encompass both, or even none!
The great femininity debate
There has been a lot of talk lately about femininity and what it should be, what it should look like in the modern day, and whether or not we’ve strayed from the so-called feminine traits of old. Of course we’ve strayed away from them, because times have changed drastically!
The world is totally different to back in the day, and that’s a very good thing indeed. [Read: How to be comfortable in your own skin – 20 ways to love being you]
Women are no longer required to stay at home and birth babies until they’re no longer able. They no longer must focus all their care and attention on other people and not think about themselves. Women no longer have to be ‘seen and not heard.’ And thank goodness for all of that!
You probably think that you exhibit both feminine and masculine traits, and that’s actually a good thing. It also means you’re just being yourself.
We totally appreciate that some of you reading this might not identify yourself with any gender, and that’s fine too. It doesn’t matter what you identify yourself as there is no need for a label! As long as you’re acting like a good human being, labels are irrelevant. [Read: Who are you? How to fine-tune your internal compass]
The 14 most common feminine traits we often hear about
Feminine traits are interesting to talk about, because it shows you just how far women have come in terms of being pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen, to these days when we’re knocking on the CEO’s door and threatening to break the glass ceiling at every opportunity. [Read: 20 subtle tips to be more feminine without losing who you are]
The most common feminine traits that are mentioned even in today’s age are:
1. Empathy
Women are typically a little softer and more intuitive than men. That means that you’re using your empathy skills and seeing things from the other person’s side.
It enables you to walk a mile in their shoes and appreciate how they’re really feeling. You read their body language and work out the truth behind the words.
2. Gentleness
While being gentle doesn’t mean that you’re a walkover, one of the most common feminine traits is that you’re able to be soft and gentle when needed.
Of course, it’s a balance. There are going to be times when you need to be tough. That’s the great thing about these traits – you can use them when you need to! [Read: How to be nice – 20 easy tips to make everyone love being around you]
3. Kindness – One of the most common feminine traits
The ability to be kind to those who deserve it. That’s probably what that title should be. Again, having these common feminine traits doesn’t mean that you’re simply nice to everyone and allow people to treat you badly.
You probably have a very good radar that allows you to work out who you can give this kindness to and who you should withhold it from.
4. Compassion
When you show empathy, you’re also showing compassion. The two work hand in hand. It’s the ability to be able to understand how someone feels and then show kindness and compassion to help them work through it.
It doesn’t mean you’re showing fake sympathy, however. Instead, compassion means that you can appreciate someone’s journey and you’re able to help them and perhaps cut them a little slack when you need to. [Read: Lack of empathy in a relationship – Why it matters and how to fix it]
5. A caring nature
When talking about feminine traits, a generally caring nature is one of the most common you’ll see mentioned.
Again, it encompasses all of the above, especially the empathy that most women show. It’s the ability to want people to be happy and to help them out whenever possible. But again, that doesn’t mean putting yourself last.
6. Sweetness
While many women aren’t sweet and don’t choose to be, sweetness is one of the common feminine traits that we often hear about when this subject is raised.
It doesn’t mean you have to be nice to everyone you meet, but it’s a special kind of something that seeps into every conversation you have. [Read: How to look cute – 25 ways to exude cuteness and melt any guy’s heart]
7. Nurturing and maternal
This is slightly different from maternal, but the two do work together well and are both feminine traits we often hear about.
Women are naturally nurturing and want others to do well. They are not only caring and empathetic, as we’ve already mentioned, but they like to see people reaching their potential and it’s that maternal side that often breaks through. You’ll probably have this side, whether you think you’re a maternal person or not.
8. Tolerant
Do you agree? Do you think tolerance is a feminine trait? Whether you agree or not, it’s a trait that’s often mentioned in the same sentence as traits and feminine.
Women are “supposed” to be patient and willing to wait. They’re “supposed” to be tolerant in the face of annoyance. Now, we don’t know about you, but in the modern world, tolerance isn’t something that’s easy to find. [Read: When people hurt you – How to deal with the pain and respond to them]
9. Submissive – One of the most controversial feminine traits!
Again, this is a debatable one. Women are “supposed” to be submissive, while men are supposed to be dominant.
But, we know many women who are pretty dominant and can walk over any guy they meet! This is probably one of those old-fashioned feminine traits that haven’t really stood the test of time as well as the others!
10. Respectful
Most women show respect when it’s due because they demand it for themselves. There’s nothing wrong with that!
However, that doesn’t mean they show it to people who don’t deserve it!
11. Supportiveness
Another common feminine trait is the ability to be supportive to those who need it. If you have someone in your life who’s struggling, you’ll probably want to be there for them and raise them up.
It works hand in hand with the nurturing trait we mentioned earlier. [Read: 10 signs your partner is truly supportive of your goals]
12. Expressiveness
Overall, most women are able to speak about their emotions far more freely than men.
Most women can put their feelings into words and if they can’t, they’re able to express them in other ways. Overall, women are more emotional than guys outwardly, but that doesn’t mean that men can’t be emotional in different ways. [Read: Do men have feelings? Why they act like they don’t care at all]
13. Sensitivity
This doesn’t mean that all women burst into tears at the first sign of a sad film. It means that you’re able to be sensitive to the needs of others and that you can read other people well.
Of course, women are generally more outwardly emotional and that links into sensitivity too. [Read: How to stop being so sensitive about everything all the time]
14. Devotion – One of the borderline feminine traits
Another of the stereotypical feminine traits we hear a lot about is devotion. Women are supposed to “stand by their man” but why would you do that if he doesn’t deserve it?
Whatever type of relationship you’re in, you will no doubt fight for your partner with everything you have, as long as they’re not giving you a reason not to. Women aren’t blindly devoted, they give their devotion to those who earn it. [Read: How to awaken your divine feminine and connect to your inner goddess]
Do you have these feminine traits?
How many of those feminine traits do you feel you have? Are there some you don’t agree with? There probably are.
For instance, how about being submissive? We know many women who are not in the slightest bit submissive, because they have no reason to be, but they’re no less feminine for it.
It’s important to remember that these are stereotypical traits that have been around for a long time. The modern world is much different compared to how it used to be. Maybe the list of accepted feminine traits needs an update for the modern woman! [Read: Masculine traits – 21 healthy and unhealthy manly traits to know about]
How have feminine traits changed?
From the list we’ve explored, it seems that they haven’t changed drastically when you really break it down, we’re simply bolder and less submissive than our sisters back in the day.
If you lived in Victorian times, you were expected to keep your mouth shut, be seen, and not heard. These days, we’re more likely to be heard and not seen. Hey, be proud of that! Be everything you want to be and then some.
Feminine traits are admirable in many ways because they allow you to be kind and empathic towards other people. This doesn’t necessarily mean that in order to exhibit feminine traits you must be a woman either, because men, women, non-binary people, and everyone else can all have feminine traits. We can all have masculine traits too. [Read: Masculine and feminine traits and how they’re different from each other]
Some might have more of one than the other, and other people might have an even mix. We’re all different and on some days we might feel like being less empathic and kind than others! That’s normal too and to be expected.
Relying upon female traits to get you through life may not be the most successful route, however. You see, we need a mixture of traits to deal with any situation that comes our way.
A well-known masculine trait is strength of character. Now, does that mean a woman can’t show that trait? Of course not! Most of the women we know are certainly strong!
Equally, a man should also show empathy towards those around him. It doesn’t make him more feminine either. It simply makes him a good human being who is showing kindness and understanding towards someone else and their potential problems and feelings. To us, that’s just a good person, not someone showing specific traits! [Read: Being sex positive: What it is and why you need to get on board]
Female traits or not, we are what we are!
Traits are traits and probably shouldn’t be labeled according to gender. In many ways, that’s what has changed most of all, and something which should be celebrated.
We no longer need to identify as a specific gender and can simply be ourselves. That means being kind to others, showing empathy, being tolerant, gentle, honest, and patient, yet it also means being strong, standing up for yourself, having drive and determination, and bravery. A mixture of different traits is the best route towards a happy and fulfilling life, but submissive? No, ain’t no time for that!
[Read: How to exude femininity and use your “womanly wiles” in your favor]
The most common feminine traits are still in circulation today, and that’s a great thing. Yes, we’ve changed but that’s because our lives have changed and we adapted to survive.