Strong woman

It's said as a compliment, meant as a compliment, usually heard as a compliment

But as a lifeling recevier of said compliment I resent it. It suggests I am out of the ordinary, an unusual woman

So... am I weird?
Are all women weak and feeble?
These days... does that mean I am non binary or some such?

Or am I just someone doing what needs to be done?

If the latter, stop bloody patronising me and promoting the patriarchy!

If any of the former then we are indeed living in the suburbs of Gilead!

It's usually said by women, about women, as a compliment, in my experience.
Not sure how I'd read it if I heard a man say it, it would depend on the context and tone.

Or even you're

If someone said your strong I would take it as a compliment. I would feel it has been diluted if they added women ( I would hear strong for a woman) . I do hate being reminded I am woman though.

I go to a lot of standup with my teen and it has become a rather tired and cringey cliche used by a lot of female standups. I'm blown away by the strength of middle-aged women myself included, and the cr** they ensure and survive, the way they support others, the astounding ways they prevail and succeed... But it's become a phrase I'm less keen on, overused. Not sure how else we could describe the complete awesomeness of our sex, but ...

In the contexts in which I've been called strong yes a man could've been called strong. I've been through some awful shit for most of my life and come out of it as a relatively nice stable relaxed person. I can tolerate quite high levels of stress without cracking up or taking it out on other people. This is what people have meant by strong.

Do men get called strong men in the same context? I’ve never been called it and it isn’t something I’ve listened out for so that’s a genuine question. My immediate thought is it suggests women generally aren’t strong. And if it isn’t a phrase commonly used about men, then that’s because men are strong and it doesn’t need pointing out. But I could be wrong.
On a personal level I’ve never been called it so I don’t know what I would think!!

I've been called a strong woman many times, by both sexes, in all sorts of situations, and it's never been meant as anything other than a compliment.

I think being a strong woman is important. Its a tradition in my family that the women are strong so we can keep going through what life chucks at us. I’ve never been called one by a man, though.

Same here milan. I come from a long line of awesome women and have always seen it as a compliment. Was first called it by my aunt when I had a 2.5 Yr old, newborn twins and a husband with a serious illness. I suppose it could be patronising from some people.

I've been told it recently, by friends and by a massage therapist.

I quite like hearing it but I do tend to interpret it as 'wow you've had all these tough experiences and you're still shallow and focused on yourself' . But I think that's my internal critic. I have never heard a man described this way, unless it was Geoff Capes.

I'd say, I am quite, but Posie Parker really is!!

I tend to take it as meaning resilient, that's what people seem to mean most times I hear it with reference to real people. In books or films it seems more variable in meaning.

My mum is 83 now and 19 years ago she had breast cancer and a full mastectomy, since then she has broken both her hips but she is still here today.
She is what I call A Strong Woman .

Not sure. I'm stubborn, arrogant and selfish. Don't think of myself as strong. I carry a lot of anger around with me. Can't be healthy.

"dunno it's something that gets said often I think because I am the single Pringle out of my friend group."

Oh I get this too! I don't say anything but I find it weird. Apparently people it takes a lot of strength to be single 🤷‍♀️ but I partly like it so much because it makes life easier.

I think being a strong woman is important. Its a tradition in my family that the women are strong so we can keep going through what life chucks at us. I’ve never been called one by a man, though.

From a woman it generally feels pragmatic, appreciative or complimentary - a positive comment.

From a man it generally feels like a grudging acknowledgment that my behaviour is at odds with feminine stereotype, without totally offending his fragile male ego.

I would assume I was on The Apprentice and Karren Bradey was putting the boot into the women's team like she always does.

I'd agree it depends on context. I might laugh, feel insulted or feel complimented depending on who and why.

It depends on context, I think

• after pushing out a baby and husband says I’m the strongest woman he knows= compliment
• after walking half an hour in the rain and male work friend says you’re a strong woman= demeaning to all womankind

I also agree with EverardDigby, it splits women into ordinary "weak" women and these supposedly "strong" women.

Next time someone says it I would definitely ask them what they mean or what they're trying to say.

Whilst it can be patronising from idiots it can also be a compliment from lovely people who mean well and have watched/helped you be that way when you've had to be.
So, depends who said it and why.

I agree with you Everard. It is patronising and condescending. I also find it passive aggressive... it has only been said to me by men and when I suspect they have disapproved of my having strong opinions which didn’t match their own