Posted: Aug 30, 2010 3:39 pm
Well since starting this thread I have asked a couple of people what they think and while some agree with me, some don't.
My wife in particular was absolutely certain that she feels female, and that having shaven legs or getting her nails done involves a pleasure that goes beyond the things itself, into reinforcing her sense of femininity in general. She reckons I'm unusual in not having similar feelings about masculinity.
But the way she described it, it was like the pleasure came from positive feedback from society, confirming her femininity. It's like the difference between us is not so much how we feel subjectively, but the fact that she takes categorisations from outside herself and personalises them, whereas I don't, generally.
My wife in particular was absolutely certain that she feels female, and that having shaven legs or getting her nails done involves a pleasure that goes beyond the things itself, into reinforcing her sense of femininity in general. She reckons I'm unusual in not having similar feelings about masculinity.
But the way she described it, it was like the pleasure came from positive feedback from society, confirming her femininity. It's like the difference between us is not so much how we feel subjectively, but the fact that she takes categorisations from outside herself and personalises them, whereas I don't, generally.