Part of the problem, I think, can be a false dichotomy. The OP offers the loose guideline that courage, independence, and assertiveness are masculine traits. It doesn't necessarily follow from there that being feminine means displaying the opposite of courage, independence, and assertiveness. Yet some people (not necessarily in this thread or on this site, but in general) seem to think it does. Thus the stereotype that some caveman is ready to conk a dinosaur over the head to protect his woman, while she can do nothing but stand by helplessly and scream herself silly.
I was raised a child of the 1970's. I remember a lot of sexism in society, and really it worked against both genders. When I got old enough to have a job, I remember that there were places like convenience stores that would not put a female employee on an overnight shift by herself. Supposedly the store was more vulnerable to robbery if a woman was there alone, whereas a man was thought to be better able to protect himself and the store. Huh? Don't men also bleed if they get robbed and shot? In my younger years, men weren't supposed to admit to being afraid, even when their lives were at stake. But that's not what bravery is. To quote John Wayne: Courage isn't not being afraid. Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway."
My question is, does a courageous, independent, assertive woman emasculate a man? If so, why?
