Guess which of these women is the tough, competent one.
A woman is shown as weak, incompetent, and ineffectual in this trope unless she dresses and behaves like a man. A common variation on this is to present a woman as superior because she's "not like other women." Another variation is a
Tomboy and Girly Girl scenario, where the tomboy is presented as superior.
We're just recording the trope, here. It happens. Between a woman in trousers and one in a dress, the odds are the trouser lady is going to be the
Action Girl of the pair and the one in the dress is going to end up being a
Damsel In Distress. Subversions exist, of course.
See also
Pink Means Feminine,
Acceptable Feminine Goals.
Contrast
Kicking Ass In All Her Finery.
Examples
