Embodiment: What Does It Mean to Be A Woman?: Disempowering cultural expectations about women’s bodies emerge from their social interactions, their environments, and the media. Women strive to achieve goals on how they should look physically, how they should dress, whether or not they should have children, and how often they should do each.
Hence, in an effort to conform to these standards, women are more prone than males to engage in activities like anti-aging skincare rituals and weight loss diets.
This article explores the development of the concept of female embodiment, the characteristics of fully embodied women, and the implications of this idea for women today. And finally, it offers advice on how to embody the positive aspects of being a woman.
Embodiment: What Does It Mean to Be A Woman?
Possession Of A Feminine Form
The term “female embodiment” is used to explain how a woman’s sense of identity develops in response to the physical interactions she has with the world. These events, both positive and negative, shape her sense of self and how she sees her body.
Where Did The Word “Female Embodiment” Come From?
The concept upon which the term “embodiment” is founded was developed by French philosopher Merleau Ponty.
He emphasizes that the body mediates our perception of the universe and that, without this knowledge, we cannot comprehend our identities, our relationships with others, or the world around us.
‘Embodiment’ refers to the influence of the body on the development of the mind in the field of psychology.
What Happens To Women When They Embrace Their Femininity
One study looked at how cultural norms and expectations shape women’s lived experiences. It focused on the ways in which embodiment can affect eating disorders, body image problems, and healthy aging in women.
As a result of this research, the “experience of embodiment” construct was developed, which categorizes embodiment experiences along five continuous dimensions, each of which has a positive and negative pole. Among the five dimensions are:
- Physical closeness and ease
- Ability to act, and practicality
- Having one’s wishes heard and fulfilled
- Incorporation of sensitive self-care routines
- Defying the urge to objectify oneself
Embodiment And Its Developmental Trajectory
As a theoretical framework, the Developmental Theory of Embodiment examines the positive and negative effects that women’s and girls’ embodiment experiences can have on their development and wellbeing.
Representations Of Female Embodiment
Female mental and emotional health can benefit from having embodied experiences. You may tell you’re a lady who fully embraces her body by the following:
The Way You Look Now Is Fine With You
You don’t despise your body, but you don’t love it either. You make an effort to love and accept your body just as it is, without trying to alter it in any way. Also, You buy and wear garments depending on how they make you feel rather than on what is popular.
Instead of blindly following the current diet or workout fad, you tune in to your body and do what it tells you to do. Feelings of hunger, thirst, and fullness are all indicators that you should pay attention to. You just go with the flow and let your body direct your movements. You get to dance whenever you want, however you want.
You Have An Innate Understanding Of What To Do For Yourself When You’re Sick
You understand how your body normally reacts when you’re sick just by knowing. As your body is getting sick, you get a feeling in your belly. You’ve taken the initiative to learn about it and how to treat it. As healing of the body is a top priority, you sleep when your body tells you to.
Embracing Your Sexuality & Sensuality Comes Naturally To You
You’re not afraid to be frank with your partners about your sexual preferences. You are in sync with the erotic sensations which occur through your body and thus are troubled by them. Feeling sexually aware and in tune with your body’s energy flow and vibrations on your skin is a daily occurrence for you.
You Have Little Trouble Putting Your Feelings Into Words
You are comfortable recognizing and articulating every feeling that exists within you. As a result, you don’t bottle up negative emotions like wrath and fear. Also, You close your arms around them, sensing their presence. You don’t bury your emotions or shut down your heart. You make it a habit to routinely assess your wellbeing.
Sustaining A Healthy Sense Of Female Bodily Identity And Voicing It
Your woman’s confidence, self-worth, self-esteem, feeling of purpose, sensuality, and power can all benefit from an effort toward positive embodiment.
Audit Your Social Media Presence By
Check your social media following to determine if any of the pages you follow promotes degrading ideas about women’s bodies and unfollow them. In order to reduce your exposure to content that reinforces harmful gender and social stereotypes, you should unfollow accounts that engage in such behavior.
Inquire Of Your Physical Self
Pause for a moment and tune into your senses to see what your body is telling you. Queries like, “What is my body contacting right now?” might help you become more aware of your physical environment. How would those materials react when in contact with my skin? The question becomes, “What can I feel, and how does it feel to be in my body right now?”
Be Present In The Moment
Mindfulness is something you may practice whenever and wherever you like. Stay where you are and pay attention to the world around you. Learn to make the link between your physical sensations and the here and now. Apps, movies, and guided imagery are just some of the options for cultivating a more aware mindset.
Consult A Coach Specializing In Female Embodiment
You can get clarity on how to move forward and unleash your feminine energy by working with a female embodiment coach who can help you understand how your experiences form your current attitude and bodily viewpoint. Female embodiment coaches can be located through online groups, word of mouth, professional referrals, and internet searches.
Also Read:
