THE 1997 PSI LECTURE - PSYCHOLOGY AND THE REEVALUATION OF THE FEMININE

This paper examines psychological perspectives on the meaning of the f eminine and femininity from the early part of this century to the pres ent day. Although a move from denigration to celebration of the femini ne can be observed, definitions and evaluations of the feminine are st ill disputed. While accepting the view that the feminine and femininit ies are largely socially constructed, the cultural embeddedness of gen der dualism and its biological substrate make it unlikely that we face a future where meanings and evaluations of the feminine land the masc uline) cease to have influence.