"Strong" Women

Every once and awhile I encounter some females that will self-describe themselves as strong and I've never really gotten what they meant by it. I have my own idea of what a "strong" person is but it is very different from how the self-proclaimed strong women have acted. I don't want to taint the thread with details on my opinions yet but I'd really like to hear anyone's opinion on the subject.

I found from what strong women have described to me as being one who stands up for herself and doesn't take any shit from people. Not to downplay it at all but to me thats how you're supposed to be otherwise you'll just end up being someone's doormat and never get anywhere in life. (Unless thats how you want to live your life but thats a whole other thread topic). It almost always has very little to do with physical strength from what I've observed.

I consider myself a strong person, but I still cry and have doubt in myself. being strong is overcoming those things.

i.e. - when i was 17 my boyfriend over over a year broke up with me and i stayed home and cried for weeks. seriously, weeks. that wasn't so strong. now, my current boyfriend and i split a few days ago. i cried for maybe an hour, but i pulled myself together and thumb wrestled with my roomate and ate cheetos and watched fun movies and laughed. learning to laugh i think is strength. to me, at least.

Yeah that I understand, part of what a "strong" person is a person who doesn't needlessly cause them self anxiety and pain beyond what is useful after a stressing experience.

Yeah I agree with that too it's just my experience that the execution ends up faulty and reactionary.

I think this tends to be a sign of insecurity, at least in my experience, regardless of gender.

I think we all have elements of strength in us, and also weakness to give that strength perspective and meaning. Understanding and harnessing this balance is what "strong" means to me, and I think if you have it, you don't need to advertise it, it is simply evident.

Not nessesarily, some women are just the take charge types like Sydni said. They know when to lead and that when shit needs to get done if they don't do it, no one will. Trying to stand in one's way....well you've got it coming if you ask me.

I realy like strong women they ten dto say what they believe, are willing to stand up for themselves and know what they want. They also tend to be comfortable with themselves and who they are. All of my relationships that were worth anything were with strong women. Maybe its to counteract my personality which I am told can be intimidating. A shrinking violet is devoid of interest to me.

My experience in this matter is very limited I wasn't really drawing to draw a larger conclusion from it.

All sorts of strength. Some peeps mistake being "loud and proud" for being strong. It's actualy the surest sign of "weakness"

In my mind a strong person is fair and has control over themselves. It's kind of like how a strong ego can either lead a person to be creative or allow them to delude themselves that they are.

[Edited on May 29, 2005 by bedukay]

i'm a literalist.

A strong woman, to me, is one that is able to go against the grain of what is accepted by society, and still make a life for herself and/or her family.

The single mom raising three kids on her own, without the assistance of anyone else, yet she is still able to provide, and teach them to be self sufficient, kind, and respectful of others.

The battered woman that was able to get herself out of that situation, and goes on to help other woman do the same.

The widow that loses her soulmate, yet goes on to live a full and happy life, not letting the loss of her love ruin her future.

All the woman taking charge of their lives and careers in a mans world. Doing everything they must to achieve their goals.

There is strength in every woman, as there is in every man. but the women that are able to rise above the oppression, the abuse, the loss, the trials, the turmoil, the drama, and the pains of life...those are the women that simply exude strength, and you can feel it when in their presence.

the girls ive met that say that are usually annoying and really cocky and talk about "what theyve been through" and such. and y'know, thats all good. people do have fucked up shit happen to them. and some of these girls are genuinley strong. but a lot of them just use it as a buzzword and throw it around.

pre-empting anything... 'im a strong man/woman' or whatever... is kinda like going around SAYING youre awesome in bed. its all subjective.

its essentially a blanket word. people go around self-proclaiming shit like that to make themselves feel better... present company excluded of course.

i just think its best to walk the walk instead of talking about it; dont just say youre "strong", be it.

i totally agree.

i dont want to offend anyone with my post... i was just talkin' about the wannabe Carrie Bradshaws who cry when theyve run out of ice cream. i dunno. theres a certain vein i'm trying to explain... y'get what im saying?

In my serious weightlifting days I used to train in Atlanta at the same gym as Annie Riveccio (above). What a sweetheart she was, but good God! I haven't seen her in years and I'd say the transformation is just about complete...

For one example of an amazingly strong woman, I offer up Danica. I'd also add women like my mother: the prototypical single mom who worked three jobs and survived numerous a-holes to make sure I turned out somewhat normal. There are millions more like her - maybe even your own - and what they all have in common is that they don't need to proclaim their strength; they simply embody it.