Feminine psychology

Feminine psychology is a term sometimes used to describe and categorize issues concerning the gender related psychology of female human identity, as well as the issues that females confront during their lives. One stream emphasises gender differences and has a scientific and empirical approach, while the other, more therapeutic in orientation, is more closely aligned to the psychoanalytic tradition. It also relates to concepts such as femininity.

Born of the female body
Jungian analysts Guy Corneau and Eugene Monick argue that the establishment and maintenance of the female identity is less delicate and fraught with complication than that of the establishment and maintenance of the male identity. Such psychologists suggest that this may be because females are born of the female body, and thus are born from a body that is the same gender as themselves. Males, on the other hand, are born from a body that is a different gender than their own. A woman simply is, but a man must become. Masculinity is risky and elusive. It is achieved by a revolt from woman, and it is confirmed only by other men.

Camille Paglia has commented that she believes that women are born, but men must "become". In other words, femininity is something that is granted by birth, not something that must be earned in adult life.

Role of the mother

 * See also: Sociology of motherhood

Homophobia

 * See also: Gay panic defense and Violence

Issues of homophobia and gay bashing are of relevance to the study of feminine psychology.

An example of the gender differences regarding homophobia can be found in Western society's different gender’s comfort level when addressing the topic of attractiveness of members of their own gender.

Most heterosexual females feel comfortable to discuss the attractiveness of another member of their own gender. In such instances, the heterosexual woman’s sexual orientation would not likely be brought into question. Most heterosexual males, however, are uncomfortable with the idea of appraising the attractiveness of other members of their own gender. In Western societies, a man who admits to seeing attractiveness in another male may be perceived as a latent homosexual.

Sports

 * Main article: Sport psychology

Competitive sports are not heavily influenced by feminine psychology. Though females do play sports, culturally male athletes are often accorded more attention and respect than their female counterparts. In professional sports, male sports leagues flourish while female sports often receive poor attendance at games and are often forced to close as a result. The Modern Olympics are based on the Ancient Olympic Games of Greece. In the ancient Greecian games, women were not only not allowed to compete in the games—they were not even allowed to attend the Olympic games. Sports terminology has been transmuted into common day slang, often with sexual connotation. For example, it is common for males to refer to "scoring" with a woman. These euphamisms are not as commonly used by women.