[tigerrouge]

Ah, but feminism is not synonymous with femininity. That was something that people explored in the 1970s - the idea that women could reclaim things which were considered as supposedly masculine and therefore off-limits. That ranged from career options to aspects of physical appearance. But female masculinity is an assault on the territory held by male masculinity.

Even today, the only 'acceptable' face of feminism is one that confines itself to - as you say it - reinforcing femininity. Women might now wear a trousersuit to work, without a second thought for the concepts that made such things possible.

Many women still fear that an exploration of themselves as a person will mean they'll end up somewhere outside of the system, facing strong disapproval and derision. Having seen what happened in the 1970s, women have internalised that response, and now use it to keep themselves in line.

But many things that we want to achieve in life will involve us going against the perceptions held by other people, coded in the social structures around us. We think nothing of doing so when it involves, say, the commercial success of a new business based on innovation. So we shouldn't feel a sudden lack of bravery when it comes to something on the scale of the freedom to express your potential as a human being.