This is going to come across a little heated, and I apologize in advance.
@Kitsune I agree with you on a lot of things, but in this matter we differ, and that is fine. These are my opinions and my experiences and everyone is entitled to their own.
I agree with
@TeganTrex entirely. Anyone who claims women can only be strong in their own domain (i.e. sensually) can tell that to ME and the entire horse industry, which is overwhelmingly female dominated in spite of the physical danger involved. I have been a professional showjumping trainer for the last 6+ years. I have moved to part time as I make better money *literally beating the shit out of men* as a professional dominatrix but the fact remains. Even after breaking my back in two places two years ago I still have no issue climbing on young, explosive, thousand-pound animals and getting them around a course of jumps. I am not alone in this attitude, almost every experienced horseperson has similar stories. I can stack bales of hay bigger than I am. I live for that shit. And guess what? There are legions of women brave and tough as nails in their own fields-- business, sports, sexwork, who are just as strong, who hold their own, and make their own path.
Don't coddle little girls. I grew up tough because I had to, and if we raised girls the same as boys, i.e. encouraged them to play outside instead of play with dolls, to climb trees, told them they were smart instead of defaulting to telling them they are pretty, we would have a very different culture. I am NOT politically correct, I believe in putting on your big kid pants and making a way for yourself. No room for hurt feelings here. But those saying women can only be strong in the traditional feminine sense are so very mistaken. I grew up Southern Baptist. I was told I couldn't every step of the way. Get mad, make life happen for yourself, and don't surrender to those who try to put you in a box.
See: Simone de Beuvoir's "The Second Sex." Philosophize This! actually has a very good episode on this very topic.