Formidable-Femininity

Formidable-femininity is a type of women's gender performance that I found in a woman's self-defense class. As a kind of gender performance it differs from conventional-femininity in that it lacks those characteristics commonly associated with women: docility passivity and weakness. It does however involve qualities such as feminine fashion and sex appeal. Using gender performativity theories Ethnomethodology and Practice Approaches I indicate ways in which it demonstrates women's social roles related to patriarchal power structures and rape culture gender arrangements. I furthermore identify ways in which these performances redefine femininity as they are constituted with fighting feminine fashions and sexiness thus women can be both feminine and formidable. In this way formidable-feminine performances can be a form of feminist activism called gender play enacting the third wave agenda of female power gender fluidity and women's independence.