Is it feminine to be prepared to defend yourself?

[Bobhwry]

Pax,
There is no right or wrong answer. It depends alot on the generation from whence you come. My wife and I have been married for 40 years, somewhat of a rarity in today's world. Both grew up in small town upper midwest with traditional conservative values. The one common denominator that spans generations is to protect your family at all costs. The difference is in self defense and preservation. My wife has no interest in firearms for self defense nor does she embrace my interest in guns for sport or self defense, but she accepts it.
In today's world a woman choosing to defend herself is not gender related but an unfortunate necessity in our crazy existence.

 

[Grey54956]

Feminine or masculine? None of the above. It is intelligent.

This is not a gender issue.

 

[mp510]

I voted that a woman being prepared to defend herself is not feminine. That should not be confused with not appropriate. Obviously, it is appropriate and a necesary function for the woman, like the man, to be willing and prepared to defend herself.

I consider feminine to deal with gender roles traditionally associated with women. Preparing to defend oneself, would put the woman into a position where she is taking initiative, and standing tall. Traditionally, women are not rocks but are leaning limbs.

 

[Barbara]

Leaning limbs? What the bejeebers is that? Now I'm rotting lumber?

 

[Geno]

Maybe it's like having a wooden leg, Barbara. Leaning limbs...

 

[skinnyguy]

In some cases, your femininity makes you a target, and the femininity you have is then stolen from you.

To protect your femininity is not unfeminine, it is, unfortunately, required.

 

[Waywatcher]

Quote:
I don't see how gender can be attached to such a concept.

I agree.

I voted "no". I think it is neither feminie nor masculine - it is human, and it is intelligent.

I am in agreement with these folks.

 

[Stickjockey]

You know, I think I may have voted incorrectly, now that I think about it. I originally voted "yes." Now I'm not so sure.

You see, the more I think about it, the more I see some very firm traits associated with femininity; gentleness, nurturing, those types of things. The deal is, none of these traits can be associated with the actions necessary to defend oneself or one's kith-n-kin in a violent situation. How can putting two rounds through the sternum of a guy waving a machete be construed as "gentle?" So, strictly speaking, the idea of being prepared for defense isn't at all "feminine."

This is in no way to say that it isn't "womanly." As "manliness" has a feminine side, allowing a man to see beauty and feel compassion/pity, so does "womanliness" have a masculine side, allowing a woman to become that "mother bear" needed to protect her family.

So while not particularly feminine, it definitely contributes to the woman as a whole person. The meme your running into, I think is that unless a woman is completely feminine, she's not attractive, and that just ain't so.