Sissy

Sissy (derived from sister; also sissy baby, sissy boy, sissy man, tomgirl, etc.) is a pejorative term for a boy or man who violates or does not meet the "standard male" gender role. Generally, sissy implies a lack of courage, strength, coordination, testosterone, male libido, and stoic calm, all of which have traditionally been associated with masculinity and are considered important to the male role. A man might also be considered a sissy for being interested in traditionally feminine hobbies or employment (e.g., being fond of fashion), displaying effeminate behavior (e.g. using hair products or displaying limp wrists), being unathletic, or being homosexual.

Sissy is, approximately, the male converse of tomboy (a girl with masculine traits or interests), but carries more strongly negative connotations. Even among gay men, behavior thought of as sissy or camp produces mixed reactions. Some men reclaim the term for themselves.

The term sissyphobia denotes a negative cultural reaction against "sissy boys" thought prevalent in 1974. Sissyphobia has more recently been used in some queer studies; other authors in this latter area have proposed effeminiphobia,femiphobia,femmephobia, or effemimania as alternative terms.

Sissy (transgender)

In "sissy role play" a sissy is a person (typically a man) who adopts hyper-feminine behaviors, and engages in stereotypical "feminine" activities (e.g., housekeeping, putting on make-up), often within the context of BDSM. Particularly within the BDSM community, a "sissy" will typically assume the submissive role to a dominant female and/or male partner(s). Often sissies in a BDSM context also identify with other fetishes and sexual practices such as: erotic humiliation, bondage, petticoating, cuckoldry, chastity, leather, latex/pvc, infantilism, corporal punishment, being a recipient of anal fisting, etc. The word "sissy" is also used in pornography without the always clear BDSM context.

As a lifestyle desire or fetish activity, a sissy's feminization is an involuntary transformation from masculine to feminine, either physically, behaviorally, or both. The process is known as feminization or sissification. This transformation can either be permanent, or temporary. Additionally, this transformation can be something that the "sissy" goes through only in private (temporarily - fetish) or in public, temporarily or permanently.

Sissy (disambiguation)

Sissy may refer to:

People

See also