This practice often involves cross-dressing, wearing makeup or lingerie, and performing acts of sexual submission, all framed as a form of erotic humiliation. Wikipedia notes that the fetish is speculated to be rooted in the intense societal pressure for men to be traditionally masculine; the fantasy of being "forced" to be feminine serves as a release valve for the anxiety of failing to meet those hyper-masculine standards.
While Sawo writes about a literal physical transformation, feminist scholars have long argued that women in Western societies are also "forced" into womanhood by a set of socialized expectations. forced womanhood pdf full
This theme is echoed by other researchers. Journalist Julie Neuffer, a professor of American history, studied the "Fascinating Womanhood Movement" founded by Helen Andelin. In its conservative traditional form, this movement actively advocated that women should submit to their husbands' will, avoid careers outside the home, and maintain a hyper-feminine appearance to serve their families. When discussing her work on the subject, Neuffer notes that in her own small town, "What was expected of me, and of every other girl that I knew, was to grow up, get married, and become a housewife". Here, "forced womanhood" takes on a more social, rather than physical, form of coercion. This theme is echoed by other researchers