Line #19 PlayingWith/RealWomenDontWearDresses


1	'''Basic Trope''': Femininity in women is treated as negative.
2	* '''Straight''': {{Tomboy}}ish ActionHeroine Alice is presented as more admirable than [[FeminineWomenCanCook Betty]], the TeamChef.
3	* '''Exaggerated''': Alice is LadyLooksLikeADude who has BoyishShortHair, [[HatesWearingDresses never wears dresses]], makeup or {{pink\|MeansFeminine}}, is solely interested in [[WrenchWench machinery]] and [[GunNut guns]], would starve to death in a fully equipped kitchen, [[DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale physically attacks men who express attraction toward her]], and is LovedByAll because of it. Betty, on the other hand, a {{Housewife}} who wears dresses or cooks, [[ZeroPercentApprovalRating is treated as utterly contemptible by everyone]] or even she is TheLoad of the team (perhaps with any traits meriting contempt being an InformedAttribute, perhaps with no traits other than femininity to warrant it).
4	* '''Downplayed''':
5	** TomboyAndGirlyGirl duo Alice and Betty are presented as friends and equals, but Alice is a bit better at fighting than Betty, which is presented as more important than Betty's [[SupremeChef domestic]] and [[PolitenessJudo interpersonal]] [[TheSocialExpert skills]].
6	** TomboyWithAGirlyStreak Alice wears a dress and enjoys it, but it's [[MinidressOfPower short and plain]], and she refuses to wear anything too fancy. Betty is an {{Elegant Gothic Lolita}} full-blown GirlyGirl without any [[GirlyGirlWithATomboyStreak tomboyish traits]].
7	** Alice, a [[NoIndoorVoice loud]] GirlyBruiser ActionHeroine [[GirlyGirlWithATomboyStreak with a tomboy streak]] who enjoys [[HardDrinkingPartyGirl drinking]] and [[PassionateSportsGirl sports]], is considered more relevant than a [[ShrinkingViolet meek]], ProperLady [[MagicIsFeminine mage]] Betty who [[SquishyWitch lack of physical fighting skills.]]
8	** TheLadette ActionHeroine Alice is presented as more useful than the {{Housewife}} Betty, but her {{Jerkass}} and [[ArrogantKungFuGirl aggressive]] personality cause everyone to become stoic toward her, meanwhile, Betty is a NiceGirl and receives some adoration despite people still tell her to [[StayInTheKitchen not engage in the fighting fields.]]
9	** ([[SmartJerkAndNiceMoron Inversion of]] [[TenderTomboyishnessFoulFemininity the above]]) Tomboyish Alice is portrayed as an incompetent and inexperience member, but her [[KindheartedSimpleton kindness]] and her awareness of her shortcomings still gives her loads of admirable reactions, ActionFashionista Betty, on the other hand, is only superior to Alice in terms of [[InsufferableGenius intelligence]] and [[SmugSuper skills]] which makes the team members become less friendly toward her despite still treat her as a useful member.
10	** In the NoWomansLand, all women of any occupation are given slave treatments, frequently [[WouldHitAGirl beaten]] and [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil raped]] by male citizens of every social rank, but by comparison, [[AmazonBrigade female soldiers]] receive better food quality and safer environments than the {{Housewife}}s.
11	* '''Justified''':
12	** Because TheTeam constantly finds themselves in situations where fighting is necessary, having a capable ActionGirl is much preferred than the feminine woman who cannot help in the battle (and thus treated as TheLoad).
13	** [[MasculineGirlFeminineBoy Typical gender roles are reversed]] [[DeliberateValuesDissonance in this society]], so wearing makeup and dresses is for men, and women who do these things are considered against the norm and unacceptable (and vice versa).
14	** The story is set in LadyLand which masculine women take the role of HeManWomanHater while feminine ones are required to StayInTheKitchen.
15	** The team fears that they would be DistractedByTheSexy if a feminine woman of the team were nearby them during the battle.
16	* '''Inverted''':
17	** Alice's masculinity is treated as a flaw which [[NoGuyWantsAnAmazon nobody adores it]] and [[StayInTheKitchen the other characters force Alice]] to behave like Betty, a SupremeChef ProperLady.
18	** MagicalGirlWarrior Betty with her [[TextileWorkIsFeminine self-made]] [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman powerful]] [[PsychoPink pink]] [[FrillsOfJustice frilly dresses]] is considered [[ActionFashionista the best]] [[GirlyBruiser fighter]] and even TheAce of the team. Meanwhile, TheLadette [[SmallNameBigEgo self-proclaimed fighter]] Alice, though no slouch in combat herself, turns out to be too much of a [[ArrogantKungFuGirl headstrong]], [[LeeroyJenkins "charge-first-think-later"]] fighter. Alice always finds herself [[TheWorfEffect badly outmatched in a fight]] and only was spared from the fate of [[VasquezAlwaysDies PFC Janette Vasquez]] by [[BigDamnHeroes Betty's intervention]].
19	** MarySueClassic: May be described as conventionally feminine, beautiful, and lovable by everyone. Some MarySue is considered androgynous on the TomboyAndGirlyGirl scale, but tomboyish sue is rarely seen.
20	* '''Gender-Inverted''':
21	** SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan duo Adam and Bob go through life together with the [[LongHairedPrettyBoy feminine]] [[AgentPeacock action guy]] [[{{Bishounen}} Adam]] being treated positively as TheAce from day one, meanwhile, the manly [[ManlyFacialHair full-bearded]] Bob, is seen as ugly, [[MenAreTheExpendableGender expendable,]] and even a [[AllMenArePerverts pervert]] HeManWomanHater, and he is constantly [[TestosteronePoisoning corrected]] for not being a SensitiveGuy, or even treated as AllOfTheOtherReindeer.
22	** ThePrettyGuysAreStronger
23	** Real Men Don't Wear Loose And Bagging And I's and T's.
24	* '''Subverted''':
25	** Betty, the cook, is shown taking decisive command after some trouble.
26	** Faye might be a noncombatant … but [[CombatMedic her healing powers]] prove rather useful.
27	** Alice is actually quite feminine off the clock.
28	* '''Double Subverted''':
29	** But she reveals that she was pretending to be the cook so no one would take her seriously; actually she got that [[ButtMonkey pathetic loser]] [[ShrinkingViolet Carol]] to do the cooking.
30	** Even though the narrative acknowledges the importance of Faye's healing powers, she is still treated as inferior to the active combatants.
31	** It's suggested Alice is "redeemed" for her femininity because she's so useful in battle.
32	*** Or by comparison, her [[TomboyWithAGirlyStreak girly streaks]] aren't that much when compared to Betty.
33	* '''Parodied''':
34	** When Alice's gun jams from all the accumulated dirt, she explains that cleaning is something she refuses to be stereotyped into doing.
35	** [[ActionFashionista Betty]] wants to join Alice's AmazonBrigade, but they refuse because she's too girly. Then at a later point, Alice finds out to her horror that Carol knows how to cook, and promptly kicks her out. Soon afterwards the team chucks out Diane because she's not a lesbian, then Emily because they find out she wore a dress to a formal event once... Finally, Alice is the only one left. She goes to fight the BigBad alone, only to learn Betty has already defeated him singlehandedly. Alice [[DrivenToSuicide doesn't react well]].
36	** The only people who are treated as "real women" are, in fact, UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} men. '''[[ComicallyMissingThePoint "REAL WOMEN]] [[HypocriticalHumor GET PHALLOPLASTIES!!!"]]'''
37	** Alice wears a dress and makeup to a formal event once, [[FelonyMisdemeanor and it's treated as a capital crime.]]
38	** The second Alice puts on a dress, her knowledge and skill drop like an anvil and her reading and writing skills are booted pack to preschooler levels, however when she takes off the dress her skills return to normal.
39	* '''Zig-Zagged''':
40	** The ActionGirl, Alice, is treated badly by the men because she's very feminist. [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer The ladies treat her badly for the same reason too.]] A Crowning SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome leads the men to treat her better, but the ladies still aren't convinced. Later, one of these ladies, Diane, must defeat the BigBad in a test to prove her badassery. She learns that Alice defeated him with no trouble. Diane initially wants to commit suicide, but Alice convinces her to embrace her feminism. Then Alice goes into a nearby bathroom and blows herself up with a grenade. Why? Because she was actually ashamed to be a feminist.
41	** In the TownGirls trio, TheSocialExpert StreetSmart Carol is the most admirable member, leaving TheLadette ActionGirl Alice and [[FeminineWomenCanCook Betty]] the TeamChef being treated as AllOfTheOtherReindeer. Sometimes her [[WomenAreWiser wiseness]] is considered more feminine than Alice, and others are presented as more masculine than Betty.
42	** ([[IntelligenceEqualsIsolation Inversion of the above]]) [[RidiculouslyAverageGuy The average girl]] Carol is treated as TheLoad of the team, when she asks Alice why she treats her like that, the answer is because Carol is too feminine, however, she still receives an AllOfTheOtherReindeer treatment from Betty, claiming that [[NoTrueScotsman Carol isn't a real woman because she isn't feminine enough.]]
43	* '''Averted''':
44	** Alice and Betty are both lovable, tough, and capable fighters.
45	** Alice and Betty are both TheLoad FauxActionGirl of the team and/or [[ActualPacifist refuses any single fight]].
46	** Alice is more competent than Betty, but both of them are either {{Tomboy}} or GirlyGirl, or the competence even has nothing to do with their personalities and interests.
47	** [[StayInTheKitchen No female members]] [[AllWomenHateEachOther are presented as useful members altogether,]] regardless of her tomboyishness or girliness.
48	* '''Enforced''':
49	** AuthorTract by a FemaleMisogynist.
50	** "A strong and assertive as well as pretty, feminine, and admirable female character? that sounds too [[MarySue perfect and unrealistic]], let's give more focus on the tomboyish one!"
51	* '''Lampshaded''':
52	** "Pffft! Look at this doormat [[HarpOfFemininity playing the harp]], wearing those swishy silken dresses, looking all fragile and shit! Let's beat her up! It's not like she'll be able to fight back anyway..."
53	** "Femininity is about [[MeeknessIsWeakness being weak, incompetent and useless]]. When was the last time you saw a woman achieving something great for the world by being feminine?"
54	* '''Invoked''':
55	** Military academies strongly remove women's femininity and emphasize they can only be equal if they become more masculine.
56	** Alice and her team carry a FreudianExcuse of AlphaBitch who used to mock non-feminine girls and [[HollywoodHomely plain-looking]] guys, so they form a team to win over feminine women.
57	* '''Exploited''':
58	** It turns out that Betty [[LetsGetDangerous is the most badass]] [[BewareTheNiceOnes of them all]] and has been perfectly fine using the assumption that no badass would be feminine as cover.
59	** Either the HeteronormativeCrusader or the StrawFeminist convince Betty to switch sides, claiming that they will treat her like a queen for her femininity.
60	* '''Defied''':
61	** Despite jeering, Betty cooks, [[BadassPacifist doesn't fight]], and [[TheStrategist still runs]] [[TeamMom the team]].
62	** Alice scolds her friends for looking down on Betty because she's more feminine while Alice's a tomboy, saying that real women are not defined by ass-kicking. In fact, for her, [[HeroicSelfDeprecation Betty is more of a real woman than her]] because Betty is pretty by her feminine nature, and Alice has a personal complex about '[[TomboyAngst not being a real woman]]'.
63	** Betty starts training and working hard to prove that she is much more than the chef.
64	** No matter how hard and well Alice works, the team refuses to praise Alice, and they pay more attention to Betty instead due to [[MenActWomenAre she is kindhearted, prettier, sweeter, and more well-manner compared to the rough and tough Alice.]]
65	** The team establishes the rule that prevents insulting femininity, if anyone treats feminine women badly or refuses to [[RealMenWearPink be like]] [[TomboyWithAGirlyStreak that one,]] they will be rejected from the team.
66	** After Alice runs the team, she starts undergoing GirlinessUpgrade and using her [[MenAreGenericWomenAreSpecial standout status]] to make her teammates pay attention and worship her.
67	** Betty proves herself to be just as strong, competent and empowered as Alice ''because'' of her femininity, not despite it, being a MagicalGirlWarrior who cooks PowerUpFood.
68	* '''Discussed''':
69	** "You ever notice that women don't seem to be allowed to be feminine around here anymore?"
70	** "I can't cook. It will turn me all girlie and then I won't be able to fight!"
71	* '''Conversed''': "Why is it such a bad thing to be feminine?" "Because it makes you look weak and incapable."
72	* '''Deconstructed''':
73	** Alice eventually wears down Betty and persuades her to give femininity up, leading to them going hungry in a filthy house, until [[DividedWeFall the team breaks up]] [[WeAreStrugglingTogether because everyone refuses to be considerate to each other]].
74	** By treating any traditionally "feminine" actions as [[StopBeingStereotypical stereotypical and demeaning]], the supposedly badass and "hardcore" women are reinforcing the same negative stereotypes they claim to be rallying against as feminists.
75	** (for Justified #2 and #3) Betty is harassed by the local {{Jerkass}} who views her as a CategoryTraitor of their society.
76	** Because of this treatment, Betty's experiences with the team become a FreudianExcuse of her [[TenderTomboyishnessFoulFemininity foul feminine]] FaceHeelTurn actions, and she either becomes TheMole that [[GenocideFromTheInside secretly and intentionally destroys the team,]] or leaves the team and side with the ([[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist Not-So]]) WellIntentionedExtremist who considered only feminine women are real women. As a result, Betty becomes a prominent member of her new team, and she even manipulates them to [[WhosLaughingNow kill all members of Alice's team.]]
77	** [[ButchLesbian Carol]] wants to undergo TomboynessUpgrade, but Diane tell her not to do it, because this trope makes Diane assume all {{Tomboy}}s are [[FemaleMisogynist Female Misogynists]] and she will be shunned for being too feminine, causing Carol to suffer from UnwillinglyGirlyTomboy.
78	** {{Tomboy}}ish ActionHeroine Alice is presented as more admirable than GirlyGirl Betty, however, these positive treatments are just CondescendingCompassion from her FemininityFailure, and Alice isn't comfortable with it.
79	** Alice suffers under toxic masculinity just as much as she would under traditional gender norms, because it's impossible for anyone to meet the standards 100%. She has to avoid cooking and cleaning, yet somehow be completely independent. She has to be [[TheLadette openly sexual]], while caring nothing for how attractive she is. And she has to have a high-stress job while [[AngstWhatAngst not suffering psychologically]] [[TherapyIsForTheWeak in any way]]. Hence, [[MortonsFork no matter what she does]], she's doomed to fall short of being a "real woman".
80	** Betty is a trans woman, and femininity is an important part of her identity. After Alice bullies her into looking and acting more traditionally masculine, Betty gets misgendered a lot for it, and experiences [[TransTribulations severe dysphoria]].
81	* '''Reconstructed''':
82	** The team only agrees to work together when household chores are handed out as official assignments. The ActionGirl will gladly do the laundry if it's an ''order'' as opposed to ''female obligation'' that carries a "girlish" stigma. Whereupon everyone complains about the shoddy housekeeping and they have to crack down and ensure that they are done well.
83	** Alice understands that her hardline stance on feminine behavior is damaging to her cause, and no longer seeks to punish it. But she also admits she has [[TheLadette zero-to-no interest]] in enacting any of it herself.
84	** Betty leaves the country to a place where feminine women are considered real women.
85	*** Alternately, the ButchLesbian NiceGirl saves Betty from being attacked, later, the OppositesAttract is formed and they become a MasculineFeminineGayCouple.
86	** Alice and the team [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realize how bad they treat Betty only because of her interests,]] so they try to defeat betty to make her [[HeelRealization realizes]] that she is still an important part of the team.
87	* '''Played for Laughs''': IdiotHero Bob is struck dumb when he sees ActionGirl Alice in a dress -- not because SheCleansUpNicely, but because "OMG you're wearing a dress! I thought you were badass!" [[AmusingInjuries Alice promptly puts his head through the nearest wall.]]
88	* '''Played for Drama''':
89	** Alice feels she has to fit the "strong woman" stereotype to be taken seriously or have any worth as a person, so she gives up all her feminine interests (even though she really enjoys them), refuses to have anything to do with men, and acts like TheStoic all the time. This takes its toll on her psychologically.
90	** Alice, a LadyOfWar, is given AllOfTheOtherReindeer treatment for her femininity, even though she's just as competent as the men and the tomboyish women.
91	* '''Played for Horror''': Alice and her team carry a FreudianExcuse of AlphaBitch who used to mock non-feminine girls and [[HollywoodHomely plain-looking]] guys, so [[WhosLaughingNow they form a team and plan to hunt all feminine women.]]
92	* '''Implied''': Alice and Betty aren't especially characterized beyond their clothing and activities, but the team members are a lot more friendly to Alice.
93	* '''Untwisted''': Alice stops grooming herself and learns how to hunt food because the CrapsackWorld makes everyone less caring about their appearances, and the cost of cosmetics and pretty clothes are rapidly increased because companies are too busy to trade their resources to survive, also, most cooking skills are nearly improbable due to lack of food and everyone must hunts and eat everything without traditionally preparing and proper manners.
94	* '''Unparodied''': The only people who are treated as "real women" are UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} men. So Betty starts going by "Ben", [[EasySexChange undergoing flawless gender transitions]], doing harsh training, and becoming a [[MachoCamp muscular]] WholesomeCrossdresser AgentPeacock who is [[LoopholeAbuse much more feminine than his past self]], and everyone starts praising him for this process because he isn't a pathetic DamselScrappy for them anymore!
95	----
96	Go back to RealWomenDontWearDresses, you weak doormat! And take off that sissy, frilly dress while you're at it, [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch]]!
97	----
98	%%Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:

Context PlayingWith / RealWomenDontWearDresses