sissy

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It has been suggested that sissy (transgender) be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) Proposed since November 2010.

Sissy (derived from sister; also sissy baby, sissy boy, etc.) is a pejorative term for a boy or man who violates or does not meet the traditional male gender role. Generally, sissy implies a lack of courage and stoicism, which are thought 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, going to meditation sessions, or cooking), for displaying effeminate behavior (e.g., saying "mua mua" before hanging up the phone or using creams), for being unathletic, or for being homosexual.

Sissy is, approximately, the male converse of tomboy (a girl with "unfeminine" traits or interests), but has none of the latter's positive connotations. Even amongst gay men, behavior thought of as sissy or camp produces mixed reactions. Some men reclaim the term for themselves.

The term sissyphobia denotes a prevailing negative cultural reaction against "sissy boys".^[1] Sissyphobia has more recently been used in some queer studies;^[2] other authors in this latter area have proposed effeminiphobia as an alternative term.^[3]

Term of affection toward women

Sissy (or sis) can also be a relationship nickname formed from sister, given to girls to indicate their role in the family, especially the oldest female sibling. It can also be applied to girls as a term of affection from friends who are not family members. (See Sissy Spacek.)

In queer studies

Gregory M. Herek wrote that sissyphobia arises as combination of misogyny and homophobia.^[4]

In sexual subcultures

Sissy takes on more specific meanings in the transgender but is not considered transgender by many transgendered people,^{[citation needed]} infantilist,^[5] and BDSM communities (especially through forced feminization or petticoating practices).^[6]

In the BDSM practice of forced feminization, the male bottom undergoing cross-dressing may be called a sissy as a form of erotic humiliation, which may elicit guilt or sexual arousal, or possibly both, depending on the individual.^[6]

In (paraphilic) infantilism, a sissy baby is a man who likes to play the role of a baby girl.^[5]

See also

• Bubba
• Butch and femme
• Cowardice
• Gender queer
• Girly girl
• Molly house
• Sissy (transgender)
• Tomboy

Further reading

• Padva, Gilad and Talmon, Miri (2008). Gotta Have An Effeminate Heart: The Politics of Effeminacy and Sissyness in a Nostalgic Israeli TV Musical. Feminist Media Studies 8(1), 69-84.
• Padva, Gilad (2005). Radical Sissies and Stereotyped Fairies in Laurie Lynd’s The Fairy Who Didn’t Want To Be A Fairy Anymore. Cinema Journal 45(1), 66-78.
• Jana Katz, Martina Kock, Sandra Ortmann, Jana Schenk and Tomka Weiss (2011). Sissy Boyz. Queer Performance. thealit FRAUEN.KULTUR.LABOR, Bremen. http://www.sissyboyz.de

References