15 Comments
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Robert the contemplative's avatar

You ate this up! This word never sat right with me also. And its made more difficult because I am a Black man who grew up in Chicago. The expectation to be hard and unafraid isn't me. It doesn't fit me. If pussy means weakness...call me whatever you want. One thing about me? Imma cry. I am not the fittest in the Hunger Games

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

I appreciate your vulnerability so much. Idk how to be hard and unafraid. I’m not sure I want to.

Thank you so much for reading.

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Tara Connor's avatar

It is the craziest thing that words we associate with women are thought to connote softness or weakness. Women are so tough; we have to be. But softness and strength are not mutually exclusive. I cry at all the sad scenes, too. And the news. And the right song on my playlist at the gym. I love this whole piece. Thanks so much for sharing it.

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

I’ve been in a few fair fights. A few unfair ones too. I long for the overlap of softness and strength.

Thank you for reading. It means everything.

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Ashleigh Vaughn's avatar

All. of. this. I too, require a gentler world to live in. My whole life I've been made to feel too soft, too sensitive, too fragile. I'm so glad that I've reached a point where I know all of those things are my superpowers. To be soft in a world that constantly threatens to harden you is resistance and strength personified.

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Ramya Vivekanandan's avatar

Loved this so much! Pussy is soft, pussy is fierce. All the things. You captured it beautifully.

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

I appreciate this so much. This piece just fell out of me

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Sabrina Santana's avatar

From Queens to the sea, pussy is me

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miss certainly's avatar

This was an amazing read!!!! So sharp and juicy at the same time … „I am soft. Like pussy.“ me too girl !!!!!!!!! Thank you for this, I love the way your write it’s so exciting.

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

This is the highest praise. Whew.

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Eve's avatar

Pussy is short for pusillanimity!!!!!!

It’s not our genitalia 📣🔔🔔🔔

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

I’m sure that’s where the word originated. But somewhere along the line we added the female genitalia into the meaning. Maybe as a joke. Maybe as an insult. But it became a colloquialism. And it remains thus.

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The Sea in Me    (Síodhna)'s avatar

Brilliant, heartfelt honest writing. What a nuanced, strong, sensitive being this backstory has shaped. I'm applauding your wisdom.

Agree with you and Tara, the strength and softness shouldn't be separate. There's a less articulated narrative in society around this very point. Thousands of years of socialisation, culture.

This along with other writing in this vein do much to address this.

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Bethany Nicole's avatar

I’ll be sitting with this compliment a long time. Thank you so much.

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The Sea in Me    (Síodhna)'s avatar

Brene Brown talks about strong back, soft front. https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-on-strong-backs-soft-fronts-and-wild-hearts/

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