Is there anything like negative femininity in Gender Norms Transformation?

In gender norms work, we are familiar with the concept of negative masculinity, particularly in male engagement approaches. Gender practitioners often aim to eliminate excesses of masculinity while promoting gender equity. Effective male engagement significantly contributes to gender transformation to an extent that some actors think it is a “silver bullet.”

 Feminism is an agenda to eliminate discriminatory gender roles and, in its place, establish gender equitable norms. While this implies taming negative masculinity, #GenderConversations is exploring whether this transformation effort also involves doing away with “negative” femininity if it exists.

Femininity involves developing traits  of nurturing, mothering, caring, sympathy, empathy, and nimbleness. In some societies, women and girls are trained not to speak out, not to answer back, to suffer silently and exude politeness. Even when physically fit, a woman or girl must show vulnerability even in the face of visible male weakness. A “good” woman is not supposed to show aggression. As such, occupations considered aggressive such as the army are said not to be suitable for women to the extent that in some countries the Marine forces are exclusively for men. This also explains the non-studying of science and technology disciplines  by women and girls as these are regarded “rough” fields for men and boys.

 Some actors argue that feminine characteristics are good for progress in modern times. It is argued that women’s traits of empathy, cooperation, and nimbleness power agility that is necessary for  success in today’s  technologically powered workplace where thinking, intuition and less use of physical power are evident. Women have thrived in hospitality and caring sectors some of which earn well.

 However, a counter argument has been that traits of femininity are negative. They affect women’s and girls’ confidence dampening the “go-get it” behavior that is necessary for competition in the cut-throat competitive world. This is partly why some actors have extensively invested in building self-esteem, confidence and encouraging women and girls to compete. It is the notion that has been used to break barriers so that women are “empowered.”

 Depending  on how you view it, #GenderConversations contends that empowerment is not simply about good or bad. It is not an either-or exercise where you eliminate negative femininity while promoting the positive ones for gender equality. Rather it seems to be about harnessing what there is in femininity and turning it into an advantage while overcoming obstacles that arise from gender stereotyping behaviour. There seems to be no justification for  the notion that femininity is inherently negative or positive.

 One of the successful funeral businesses in Uganda harnessed the “weakness” or power of women being the socially ascribed mourners at no fee and turned it around to charge for this service. The funeral business built one of the most profitable investments. That is the power of femininity. Do actors recognize and harness feminine power to turn it into a fortune? Or, are they preoccupied with tackling negative masculinity thinking it is a panacea?