36

In the conclusion of The Feminine Character, Klein takes a closer look at those characteristics which the authors she has studied have identified as denoting femininity. She contends that it is not possible to draw conclusions concerning what constitutes femininity from such an analysis; that femininity is a concept which depends on individual bias, and the values and socio-historical perspective of the observer. She sets out ways in which we may further assess the effects of social conditioning, such as comparing women with other discriminated-against groups, or tracing how the notion of the feminine character has developed as a result of social changes. Drawing on historical examples, she also proposes that we measure the effects of discouragement on female creativity.