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Well, in the book she says, “to truly be feminine means being soft, receptive, and – look out, here it comes – submissive.”
Wait…what?! Okay maybe there’s an explanation for that ridiculous statement.
In her interview with Natalie Morales on The Today Show, Reece explains “I think because women have the ability to set the tone that the ultimate strength and showing real power, I believe, is creating that environment. I don’t think it’s a sign of weakness. I think it’s a sign of strength.”
I don’t even know what this means. What I do know is that submissive means “inclined or ready to submit; unresistingly or humbly obedient.” Also, I’m not referring to submissive in the Fifty Shades of Grey terms.
So according to Reece, to truly be feminine means to be unresistingly obedient. I’m sorry but that sounds like the worst thing ever. Being submissive does not mean you have power, it means you’re putting the power in someone else’s hands.
Does that mean when I’m in a relationship if I’m not obeying my significant other that I’m not really feminine? That I don’t have any power? Ugh. I think having power in any situation means sticking to your beliefs and standing up for yourself. I do everything for myself and have never “obeyed” someone in a relationship.
Relationships also shouldn’t be about who has power and who doesn’t. You should be equal with the person, right?
I just can’t get over how gross Reece’s statement made me feel. It’s wonderful that her and her husband got through their challenges together and made things work, but I find it to be pretty terrible advice to say that to be feminine is to be submissive.
You can be feminine and have power without being submissive, I promise.
What do you think about Gabby Reece’s statement? Do you think you have to submit to be feminine? Tell us in the comments!
Also, your social status doesn’t give you power either
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I think this article is making a big deal out of nothing. Just because a few people think that being feminine means being “submissive” doesn’t mean we have to listen to them, and doesn’t mean that they are right. And even if you are NOT feminine, that’s not a bad thing.
Some of these comments…
If you want to be submissive in your own relationship, fine. But to say that all women are or should be submissive *because they are women* is… can I swear on this site? It definitely requires a swear word.
Y’know what’s great in a relationship? Assertiveness. Communication. Consent. If you want to have a relationship where one of you identifies as dominant and one as submissive, cool, that’s your choice, but don’t you dare tell me to arrange my relationship like that because of my sex. Don’t suggest that character qualities are either male or female, because it denies one sex or other the chance to develop those qualities. Humility is a good quality in both men and women. Confidence and leadership, same deal.
You can even have a relationship where you are *both* the head of the family and make your decisions together, as partners. Some crazy feminist probably thought that one up.
I love this comment and, by association, you. (not in the creepy way but in the Jennifer Lawrence/spirit animal kind of way)
just saying
I don’t think she meant we should be submissive about everything, but we have to learn to give in on certain things that aren’t really a big deal; kind of like the phrase: choose your battles. When you’re in a relationship, you can’t always get your way, you do to some small degree submit. The guys we are with are submissive to us sometimes too, like they will put up with watching chick flicks or Disney films for a whole night just because you love them. Think about it, is it really fair to have your guy be submissive and you refuse to return the favor? No. I don’t think she means that we give away all our power, we just have to learn to give it away from time to time. Also want to add in that I can understand your point, that we should NEVER become completely submissive to anyone, that is wrong!
There you guys go again TWISTING others words and taking them out of context. wow.
I seriously feel like the people in the comments are more intelligent and open-minded than the actual writers of the articles most of the time here.
Extreme feminists like the staff of Gurl are giving a bad rap to girls in general. There’s nothing wrong with that word usage. Ease up and stop striking at every seemingly “sexist” comment with full PMS rage.
The desire for a man to take is instinctive in every woman. This is because women are naturally feminine, and apart of being feminine means, to be submissive. This doesn’t mean any of the Fifty Shades of Grey crap. Submissiveness means allow the man to take charge. For example if a guy wants to take you out on a date, instead of asking “so where do you wanna go?” He says, ” There’s this new pizza place down the street, lets go there tonight”. But this is just a small example. Submissiveness doesn’t mean that a man is above you or better than you. It means you respect and care about him enough to let him take charge.
Hahahha, that is silly. I mean.. If a couple loves one-another, then it it should mean both will live serving each-other. Being humble and submissive is NOT a negative quality for a woman! If her man loves her, he will never abuse that quality! Being tender and loving, leaving the man be the head of the family will let him know that he is needed and will only be positive in a relationship. Women, let the man be in charge if that man loves you! If he doesn’t or you don’t feel the same way you stand up and do your own thing.
I can tell without even having read the book that that was taken out of context… She might easily have meant that that is how the word “feminine” is incorrectly thought of today. And on another note, if you don’t know what something means, you shouldn’t comment on it.
Wow..u guys need to chill,.im a girl myself but u lot are extreme feminists just chill the fudge out…u tke stuff out of context and to be honest ur soooo annoying
You are absolutely referring to ‘submissive’ in Fifty Shades of Grey terms. Sex aside, Christian is a controlling, abusive jerk (consistently), who Ana thinks she can ‘cure’ by submitting to in every way (consistently). Fifty Shades: not BDSM.