What Makes You Masculine or Feminine?
Tickle has conducted several studies combining the classic psychological approach to gender identity and our own independent research to measure your masculinity and femininity. Here are the traditional qualities of masculinity and femininity:
Masculine: Sports Fan, Decisive, Leadership, Aggression, Analytical, Principled Individualist
Feminine: Cheerful, Compassionate, Gentle, Understanding, Timid, Trusting
In addition to these major areas, there are several significant, but less central qualities that comprise the traditional definition of masculinity and femininity. These include things such as:
Masculine: Focus on action, moving forward and just doing it.
Feminine: Focus on calm, relaxed interpersonal interactions.
Masculine: When it comes to personal safety, attack, defend, and run only if necessary.
Feminine: When it comes to personal safety, run, defend, and attack only as a last resort.
Masculine: Ability to use maps and find the way.
Feminine: Ability to seek help when needed.
Masculine: Creative interests in the direction of building structures.
Feminine: Creative interests in the direction of artistic endeavors.
Masculine: A tendency to mind one's own business.
Feminine: A tendency to get involved in others problems.
Masculine: Smiling almost exclusively as an expression of emotion.
Feminine: Smiling as an integral part of day-to-day interaction, regardless of personal emotion.
Masculine: Highly circumscribed physicality among friends. Shaking hands is manly; hugs are not.
Feminine: High degree of latitude for physically expressing affection to friends. Hugs or kisses are okay, but a handshake is unusual.
Furthermore, Tickle's research shows that certain behavioral stereotypes still hold true when it comes to masculinity and femininity. In fact, when considering all of the other aspects that go into a person's gender identification, these stereotypes still stand out as indicators of femininity and masculinity. Highly feminine people are significantly more likely to say that they like the color pink and that they wear lipstick than are people who are masculine. Highly masculine people are much more likely than those who are feminine to say that sex on the first date is okay and that they lift weights. While society's expectations about the roles that men and women can play has certainly changed in the past several decades, our notions of what is truly masculine and what is truly feminine remains somewhat tied to very traditional beliefs. Masculinity is related to being strong, virile, and powerful, while femininity is related to being soft, attractive, and warm.
Next: What Traditional Masculine Qualities Do You Possess?
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