The words that are often used to describe femininity make me want to be categorized among the terms that are often used to describe masculinity. Call me a masculine feminist. 

Women, and the femininity that goes hand in hand with womanhood, are described as dainty, docile, dependent. Emotional, submissive, and weak. Masculinity, however, is the opposite. To be a man, and exude masculinity, is to be independent. To be aggressive, competitive, strong, dominant, and confident. When these are the two categories that society dictates that you must choose between, which would you choose?! It seems like a no brainer. I mean, who would want to be described as weak and dependent? Why does the word “emotional” have such a negative connotation? To be emotional is a sign of weakness, which are both considered traits of femininity.

I’ve been referred to as dainty and delicate, and it angered me entirely too much. I’m not a fragile, easily broken thing. I am strong, and I am emotional. I have traits of both “femininity” and “masculinity” and I am a woman. People should not be categorized with such black and white labels. We are all so much more nuanced than that. These types of categorizations are so harmful and damaging.