What is womanhood to you?

[chilblands]

Hello, I am working on a small web project that aims to address menstruation, women’s health, and mental health. This is the first question I am starting this web project with: “What is womanhood to you?”

I am currently collecting answers on what womanhood means to people. The answer collection period closes on the 5th of September 2026, and it is open to everyone, regardless of identity. I just want to know your personal opinion; there are no wrong answers. Of course, answers are still welcome after the “closing date”. I would still love to know your thoughts and experience! This is my answer written on BearBlog.

You can reply to this post, complete this anonymous forum or email me (chilblands@proton.me) your answers. It can be in any language or media.

[mortaki]

oh this is so cool. I've always wanted to see some open discussion about exactly this topic.

I also have a bearblog that I post essays on. If I wrote one about my answer, would I be good just to send you a link to it? I am... very loquacious lol.

[chilblands]

If I wrote one about my answer, would I be good just to send you a link to it? I am... very loquacious lol.

Yes of course! Feel free to :) I have one person on BearBlog sent me their post and I linked them back (link to blog post here) If you are comfortable I will link your BearBlog my original post as well 

[TeaInTheMorning]

This is a super hard question! I'm gonna try to get around to answering the question myself!
Might X-post the contents on my barely existent blog (currently have a grand 0 posts lol)

[Memory]

To me, womanhood is just...what I am?

Like, it doesn't go that far beyond "I was born a girl, and I identify as a girl". It doesn't really change the way I see myself, or impact how I choose to live my life, you know? It's not a super deep part of my identity in every day life.

[sphinx]

Interesting question.
The first thing to come to mind was something about growing up with constant little annoyances relating to other peoples' expectations.
It's an ever ongoing process navigating around those expectations. From small things in childhood like "you don't want to play with those kinds of toys, do you?" "you can't wear those shoes" to later on when friends start pushing you to like boys and wear certain things and they get angry with you or question your identity if you don't conform, to adulthood when your family and peers put pressure on you to think about marrying and having children.

Womanhood feels like there's a set standard, certain way of doing things, that was decided for you long ago, and everyone seems to agree about it. Everyone seems to be in on it. And you just have to keep telling yourself to power through it all and that it's okay to go your own way. Even if it feels bad not being able to meet all the expectations of the "ideal" womanhood, it will feel so much worse if you attempt it at all costs and in the process abandon yourself.

I'm sorry if that's not a good answer. It's just my first thoughts.