How do you 'feel like a woman' today?

[hypernormal]

The question of how it's possible for someone to 'feel like a woman' is usually answered by those who 'identify as female' with sexist stereotypes - things such as liking barbie as a child, playing with girls, liking makeup and dresses etc. I'm interested to hear how biological women would answer this question.

This morning I woke up early with period pains, so I took some paracetamol. Then, when I changed my menstrual cup it was so full that it spilled on my trousers that I'd just put on, so I had to wash them and find something else to wear that will fit my massively, hormonally bloated stomach. This is not something that happens to transwomen, yet this is the only way in which I 'feel like a woman' so far today.

How do you 'feel like a woman' today?

Awake half the night with womanly hot flushes then planned a weeks worth of meals and arranged an online shop. In a womanly way.

Struggling with perimenopausal brain fog that makes it feel like words are falling out of my head.

Feeling my baby kick, and crying at footage from the Yemen. All in all a very 'womanly' day so far...

Mascotte
"As a side note, @FromMarch2020 have you been checked for adenomyosis? Causes long and heavy bleeding."

No I haven't. I haven't heard of that. I am just having a google - many thanks for saying.. I will ask my doctor, although during my internal scan the specialist said that apart from a very thick lining to my uterus (7mm - aparently 1-3mm is usual) he thought it all looked healthy. I bleed really heavy though and for several weeks.

Thanks again for reply.

I coughed and a little bit of wee came out. Is that womanly? I just dont know.

Adding to my earlier post: I just flew into the most blinding rage and am now sitting in tears because DH brought home the wrong lunch despite me giving him specific instructions about what I wanted.

I'm guessing there's some womanly hormonal stuff going on there...

I’m currently trying to write a covering letter for a job to emphasize that I’m past child bearing age, whilst not revealing my actual age as I’m knocking on 50 in a ‘young sector’ whilst trying to big up the dead end local job I took for flexibility with childcare.

Wish I could identify my way out of that shit.

@MillieChant I am so sorry you feel this way , you will never be a failed woman ever . Just because we are all different doesn't mean we are any less of a women our uniqueness makes us who we are .
I am sorry your ivf has failed but its not you that's failed

I feel deeply connected with all the women who've been silenced by males and handmaidens in the past
and present. And angry.

coughed and a little bit of wee came out. Is that womanly? I just dont know.

@poisson428

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@Gatehouse77 "I am a woman because of my biology. My life experiences are because I'm woman"

This.

Felt very womanly this morning suffering nursing aversion breastfeeding DD who is 3 years 9 months old. Would really like her to stop, except she gets very sad about it when I suggest maybe it's time, plus it's still the only way she'll go to sleep at night!

@MilkTwoSugarsThanks

Interesting how so many of you are feeling womanly due to pregnancy or period. Almost as if you'd deliberately picked something that transwomen will never experience 😉

I'm not pregnant. I don't menstruate. I am not even close to "proper" menopause. What does that make me?

I have XY chromosomes 🤷🏼‍♀️

I agree with those above. It is usually biology that makes me 'feel like a woman' (Enjoying the occasional chilli-rub of the menopause today.)

Occasionally I feel like a woman when I'm in 'the wrong space' for my own safety - perhaps walking home/using a public-toilet at night or when there are no other women about.

What makes you feel like a woman @MilkTwoSugarsThanks ?

(Your user name suggests that you don't expect to be the one making the tea.)

Anyone can wear make-up, or high-heels, or dresses - those things are dressing-up and fun but don't seem especially womanly to me. They are not prohibited for males these days.

(There is nothing wrong with the exaggerated styles favoured by drag-queens and panto dames or those performing the burlesque ...but they are all more associated with maleness in some way.)

My boobs are hurting because I had a mammogram yesterday at the family history clinic. If I was male I don't think that would have happened. Also glumly looking at my saggy tummy which I can't get back as my stomach muscles separated so much with DS2 pregnancy. That's pretty womanly I suppose!

-Feeling my unborn baby kick

-coping with painful PGP and unmedicated hayfever as well as tiredness, owing to the pregnancy

-caring for and nurturing my family, even when the toddler is going through a tricky phase and pulling my hair a lot!

-leaky and giant boobs getting ready for feeding the baby

I can feel my baby kicking inside me and in-between I desperately worry that I can't as I nearly lost my last baby.
I'm WFH doing my keyworker job due to pregnancy and my employer tried to financially penalise me for this, I had to get help from 'Pregnant then Screwed' to ensure I received my salary and the correct maternity pay.
I'm planning for mat leave and how it will affect my job, also trying to ensure I get appropriate maternity care which has been impacted by pandemic and currently I'm not receiving what I should be according to gov's own guidelines.
I'm also looking after my toddler which my DH does too, but he can't at the moment because he's a keyworker doing the same job as me, but he can do it from work as for some reason we couldn't decide between us who could make the sperm and who could grow the baby.

Breastfeeding my baby. I have a blocked milk duct in my right breast so it's been painful the last few days.

Housework. Women's work obviously.

BUT I have also taken the bins out, fixed the chain on my DD's bike and caught a spider so maybe I'm not a woman after all 🤷🏼‍♀️

Things which haven't made me feel like a woman - my gender, my hair, my clothes, my personality.

I feel totally full of baby at 31 weeks pregnant today. I am a whale.

In celebration of this thread I listened to the 'In Our Time' Eunuch episode on Radio 4. My womanliness made this very easy, relaxed listening without any worry about loosing my balls - because my womanly body doesn't have any.

@hypernormal

I just feel like a genderless human until I'm reminded either by my biology or unequal treatment in society that I'm female

This is exactly how I feel

Fucking furious like most days. The storm outside reflects my mood accurately.