Lately, I've been seeing a rise in discussions about “masculine vs. feminine energy,” especially within trends like croquette aesthetics, the soft girl era, and other hyper-feminine ideals. At first glance, it seems harmless—just people embracing traditional femininity, right? But when you look closer, it's the same old patriarchal framework repackaged in pastels and lace.
The whole idea of “feminine energy” being soft, nurturing, and passive while “masculine energy” is assertive, dominant, and logical is just another way to box people into gender roles. Women are encouraged to embody grace, delicacy, and submission, while men are still expected to be leaders and providers. And if a woman is ambitious, direct, or doesn’t fit the mould, she’s suddenly too masculine or imbalanced? How is this any different from old-school sexism?
1. Sounds a Lot Like Astrology & Crystal Healing; just repackaged for gender.
At its core, this whole energy thing is nothing more than pseudo-spiritual nonsense—no different from astrology, aura readings, and crystal healing. It takes actual, tangible social conditioning (aka gender roles) and repackages it as some mystical, cosmic balance. But newsflash: being confident, driven, or assertive isn’t “masculine energy”—it’s just being human. Being kind, emotional, or empathetic isn’t “feminine energy”—just basic decency.
This is just a new-age grift, convincing women that if they tap into their divine feminine (aka be passive and pleasing), they’ll attract high-value men, wealth, and a luxurious life. It’s not much different from people pushing manifestation rituals to “vibrate at a higher frequency” instead of, you know, addressing structural inequalities.
2. Capitalist, Classist, & Out of Touch
This trend is also deeply capitalist and classist. Not every woman has the luxury to “embody femininity” in a world where she’s fighting to survive. The struggling class ain’t got time for lace, vintage corsets, or pearl necklaces. The housemaid working 8 AM to 8 PM isn’t thinking about “divine femininity”—she’s thinking about making rent. The single mother working two jobs doesn’t have the privilege to let a man lead because there is no man paying her bills.
And yet, these trends disproportionately target young, impressionable women with money to spend. Soft, ultra-feminine aesthetics aren’t just a gender trap; they’re a consumer trap, making women think they need to buy the right dresses, do the right beauty routines, and act the right way to be seen as “worthy.”
3. Even Careers Are Gendered?
What really hit me was when my own friends casually pointed out that high-power careers—CEO roles, being a Colonel in the military, or even medical specializations like Cardiology and Surgery—are all “masculine.” The implication? That certain professions require masculine energy to succeed. Meanwhile, women are subtly (or not-so-subtly) pushed toward fields that align with caregiving, 'less work stress to balance work and family', and empathy, like Pediatrics or Dermatology. Even within progressive spaces, there’s still this ingrained idea that authority, leadership, and high-pressure decision-making are inherently male traits.
Masculine and feminine “energy” is a social construct. We all have different personality traits, strengths, and ways of expressing ourselves. There’s no inherent “energy” that dictates behaviour—it’s just learned roles reinforced by culture. Why should being ambitious or outspoken be masculine? Why should emotional intelligence and empathy be feminine?
Final Thoughts
This resurgence of hyper-feminine ideals feels like a reaction to feminism’s progress—society telling women, “Sure, you can have careers and independence, but don’t forget to be soft, beautiful, and pleasing while you do it.” And worst of all, it’s being sold back to us as empowerment.
What are your thoughts? Do you think this whole “energy” discourse is just patriarchy rebranded?
My Take? The way this trend disguises itself as empowerment while subtly reinforcing outdated gender norms is fascinating (and infuriating). The comparison to astrology and crystal healing is spot-on—it’s all about selling an illusion of control while keeping real power structures intact. And the classism is undeniable. This whole feminine energy obsession is a luxury belief—one that only works if you have the financial freedom to embrace softness and submission.
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