effeminateness
Unmanly soft demeanor
Effeminateness is the quality of being effeminate—having characteristics traditionally associated with women rather than men, particularly in manner, appearance, or behavior.
The term typically carries negative connotations, implying weakness or lack of masculine vigor: Critics mocked what they saw as the effeminateness of his gestures.
Often used disparagingly, especially toward gay men.
Pejorative for effeminate male
- pansyOrnamental garden flower
- foppishnessExcessive concern with appearance
- dandyismPreoccupation with elegant dress
- prissinessExcessive propriety or delicacy
mincing · limp-wristed · feyness · campness · flamboyance · theatricality · preciousness · affectation
Mature female qualities
- girlishnessYouthful feminine quality
- softnessYielding to gentle pressure
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- gentlenessSoft, kind demeanor
daintiness · gracefulness · sensitivity · tenderness · refinement · elegance · unmanliness · womanishness
Insincere, contrived behavior
- simperingSmiling affectedly, falsely coy
- mincingAffectedly delicate in manner
- lispingSpeech impediment with sibilants
- titteringNervous, restrained laughter
fluttering · primness · fastidiousness · fussiness · overrefinement · squeamishness · prudishness · coyness
Diverging from expected roles
- masculinityMale gender characteristics
- gender expressionOutward manifestation of identity
- gender normsSocial expectations by sex
- gender rolesExpected behaviors by sex
unmanliness · emasculation · androgyny · cross-dressing · gender presentation
Ease of breaking
- daintinessRefined, petite elegance
- finenessPurity or thinness measure
- etherealityLightness beyond physical
- airinessLightness and openness
lightness · gossamer · translucence · exquisiteness · slightness · wispy · frailty · flimsiness
sissy
Pejorative for effeminate male
- pansyOrnamental garden flower
- foppishnessExcessive concern with appearance
- dandyismPreoccupation with elegant dress
prissiness · mincing · limp-wristed · feyness · campness · flamboyance · theatricality · preciousness · affectation · namby-pamby
womanliness
Mature female qualities
- girlishnessYouthful feminine quality
- softnessYielding to gentle pressure
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
gentleness · daintiness · gracefulness · sensitivity · tenderness · refinement · elegance · unmanliness · womanishness · prettiness
affectedness
Insincere, contrived behavior
- simperingSmiling affectedly, falsely coy
- mincingAffectedly delicate in manner
- lispingSpeech impediment with sibilants
tittering · fluttering · primness · fastidiousness · fussiness · overrefinement · squeamishness · prudishness · coyness · preening
gender nonconformity
Diverging from expected roles
- masculinityMale gender characteristics
- gender expressionOutward manifestation of identity
- gender normsSocial expectations by sex
gender roles · unmanliness · emasculation · androgyny · cross-dressing · gender presentation
fragility
Ease of breaking
- daintinessRefined, petite elegance
- finenessPurity or thinness measure
- etherealityLightness beyond physical
airiness · lightness · gossamer · translucence · exquisiteness · slightness · wispy · frailty · flimsiness · tenuousness
effeminatenessmasculinity
Male gender characteristics
manliness · machismo · virility · ruggedness · toughness
feminine, femininity, effeminate, effeminacy, feminize, effeminize, effeminately, effeminates