Not So Soft Side of Femininity: Interpretating the Validity of Inclusive Femininity

Abstract The concept of “inclusive femininity” has recently garnered significant attention both in academic circles and the media. It proposes replacing the traditional notion of femininity as passive and submissive with a more inclusive framework for understanding gender dynamics in societies that exhibit reduced levels of cultural misogyny and “femmephobia.” This shift holds profound implications for critical studies on women and femininities. The article is structured into two parts, commencing with a theoretical examination of the application of inclusive femininity and its purported advantages over traditional conceptions of femininity. The latter section delves into an analysis of the conceptual distinctions between misogyny and femmephobia within the framework of inclusive femininity. This analysis reveals several significant theoretical concerns that cast doubt upon the reliability of research employing the concept of inclusive femininity.