You may have heard sentences like this, "Your life is not complete, if you don't have children." or, "Women's body just straight, anyway! Real women have curves!” or this one, "Don't be too smart and independent, guys will be scared!".
You may have heard the words above which often discriminate against other women. Well, it's called toxic femininity. Have you ever heard of this term? Let's find out more about this toxic femininity that must be eradicated immediately!
What is Toxic Feminity?
Quoted from Very Well Mind, toxic femininity includes thoughts and actions that harm others. Toxic femininity is a broad term that refers to rigid and repressive definitions of femininity, including the pressures women face to limit themselves to stereotypical feminine traits and characteristics.
Toxic femininity also refers to adherence to the gender binary to accept conditional values in a patriarchal society. This is a concept that restricts women from being cooperative, passive, sexually submissive, and deriving their value only from physical beauty. Toxic femininity argues that women are without the right to choose and exist to be defined and valued by women in their lives such as fathers or husbands.
What is the Impact of Toxic Feminity?
Toxic femininity is dangerous because it corners women as a natural thing in society's life. For example, pressures to remain silent, have no suffrage, and be submissive can cause women to become victims of abuse or remain in the insecurity of feeling obligated to act in such a manner.
In addition, toxic femininity in the workplace can create a hostile work environment and have a negative impact on the mental health of employees. By preventing other women from getting promotions, toxic femininity also leads to a lack of diversity in leadership positions.
How to Overcome Toxic Feminity
Fighting toxic femininity can be done by empowering femininity. For example, encouraging fellow women to identify to love themselves. This will help him to make healthy life decisions and foster his transformational development.
Validating a woman's thoughts and feelings is like helping and encouraging her if she is experiencing pressure from toxic femininity in her environment. If he is exposed to sexism and harassment, do not tolerate it and report the bad behavior. For example, if there is harassment in the office, report the act to the management.
In fact, the stronger the support among women, the more women can begin to ensure a more conducive environment and promote healthier relationships.