We are talking, admittedly, about an exquisite esthetic. Enormous pleasure can be extracted from feminine pursuits as a creative outlet or purely as relaxation; indeed, indulgence for the sake of fun, or art, or attention, is among femininity’s great joys. But the chief attraction (and the central paradox, as well) is the competitive edge that femininity seems to promise in the unending struggle to survive, and perhaps to triumph.

In the paragraph, the author concludes her argument by

A. proposing that femininity be reimagined as an artistic pursuit rather than a set of rules

B. acknowledging that not everyone enjoys the privilege of acting feminine

C. suggesting that modern femininity requires women to oppose traditional roles

D. highlighting the context in which women may choose to embrace femininity’s restrictions


E. lamenting the way that femininity encourages rivalries among women