History Main / WomenAreDelicate

This is an {{Omnipresent Trope|s}}: it can be assumed to exist in every medium unless otherwise stated. In most forms, the assumption is that women are delicate, suited for nurturing, and/or [[MenAreStrongWomenArePretty prone to focusing on their physical appearance]], making them less suitable for active roles requiring strength and toughness. Women tend to be physically smaller than men and possess less musculature, and these things, amongst others, have created the assumption that females are not as "hardy" as males.

* CuteClumsyGirl: She's considered to be "atypical" of most girls because she's more accident-prone, which in turn makes her seem MORE delicate. [[note]] It's also known as {{Dojikko}} [[/note]]

* DeathByChildbirth: She sacrifices her life to bring her child(ren) into the world. If she dies in this fashion, she may be praised for strength...after being praised for fulfilling her "natural" role as a mother, of course.

* {{MRSDegree}}: For men, college is about becoming qualified to work and start a career. For women, college is about finding a husband--probably one of those men.

* FarmersDaughter: She's an innocent wildflower who can't seem to resist the exotic city men who wander onto Daddy's farm. Possibly uneducated, and always emphasizes the MadonnaWhoreComplex (she's either a naive virgin the city man seduces or a jezebel man-trap). Beware of the ShotgunWedding

* BrattyTeenageDaughter: A stereotypical [[TeensAreMonsters teenage girl]] who is [[HystericalWoman overly emotional]], [[DramaQueen dramatic]], [[EntitledBitch entitled]], [[LackOfEmpathy shallow]], [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]], and [[TeensLoveShopping materialistic]], not to mention completely [[SmittenTeenageGirl boy-crazy]], putting her obsession with male attention over her friends and even [[DatingWhatDaddyHates her family]], and thus needs her sexuality and whereabouts policed by her [[BoyfriendBlockingDad father]](or [[MySisterIsOffLimits other male family members in proximity]]) due to being too gullible and stupid to possibly make her own decisions.

This is an {{Omnipresent Trope|s}}. It can be assumed to exist in every medium unless otherwise stated. In most forms of human society, the assumption is that women are the more delicate of the sexes or are more suited for nurturing and/or [[MenAreStrongWomenArePretty looking pretty]] than the more active roles undertaken by men. Women tend to be physically smaller than men and possess less musculature, and these things, amongst others, have created the assumption that women are less "hardy" than men.

* Bilateral: Women are more delicate ''than men.'' In this form, even if women have toughness, competence, strength, or stability, it's less than what their male peers are capable of.

Nearly every medium plays around with this in some way. There are some tropes (for example, StayInTheKitchen) which stereotype it whereas other tropes (such as ActionGirl) outright subvert, defy, or avert it intentionally. From there, the combinations tend to get tricky. Some tropes treat it ironically (WaifFu) whereas others reinforce it [[VasquezAlwaysDies by having the more masculine of two female characters be the disposable one.]] Under this belief, it's also commonly assumed that [[MenAreStrongWomenArePretty beauty is a woman's "hat"]], thus what women naturally lack in power or capability they make up for in appearance.

Lastly, note that the word we chose to define this trope is "delicate". That word is not just about the woman's physical or emotional toughness. Delicate also means "precious, careful, deliberate, thorough", which are also qualities women are stereotyped with such as with WomenAreWiser and MenUseViolenceWomenUseCommunication. Delicate is the word which best sums up everything this trope is about. Please keep that in mind when adding/editing the subtropes. We intentionally chose a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysemy polysemic]] word for this trope because Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible, and like all stereotypes, this one is an EvolvingTrope and changes a LOT as people attempt to use it or [[DownplayedTrope downplay it]].

* ShortTank: Her attempt at being feminine is genuinely cute.

* SeeminglyWholesomeFiftiesGirl: The woman is not delicate at all despite all appearances.

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In most forms of human society, the assumption is that women are the more delicate of the sexes or are more suited for nurturing and/or [[MenAreStrongWomenArePretty looking pretty]] than the more active roles undertaken by men. Women tend to be physically smaller than men and possess less musculature, and these things, amongst others, have created the assumption that women are less "hardy" than men.

This is an {{Omnipresent Trope|s}}. It can be assumed to exist in every medium unless otherwise stated. In most forms of human society, the assumption is that women are the more delicate of the sexes or are more suited for nurturing and/or [[MenAreStrongWomenArePretty looking pretty]] than the more active roles undertaken by men. Women tend to be physically smaller than men and possess less musculature, and these things, amongst others, have created the assumption that women are less "hardy" than men.

* ConsummationCounterfeit: A "good" girl will ''always'' bleed the first time she has sex...and if she doesn't, she must fake it, because that bloodstain shows that she is virtuous.

* GenderNonconformingEqualsGay: ''Because'' WomenAreDelicate, a woman who is in some way "indelicate" (gender nonconforming) will be gay or queer.

* SuicideByPills: Women are overrepresented in the depictions of this trope likely because it is [[BloodlessCarnage less gory]] than other forms of ChoosingDeath and because it preserves the beauty of the victim, making this both WomenAreDelicate and DelicateIsBeautiful.

* GirlsAreReallyScaredOfHorrorMovies: Because she's so sensitive, a girl will cower before danger even when it's fictional.

* GirlsNightOutEpisode: The female cast of a team is given the spotlight on an otherwise male-oriented show, often to invoke Girl Power and reverse genre conventions where the girls have to rescue the guys.
* GirlsWithMustaches: Instead of a smooth, clean-shaven face, she has groomed and styled facial hair like that which you'd find on a man.

* WarriorPrince: She's royalty and one of her duties is fighting for her country.

* ProneToTears: Characters who cry easily are most often female because they are both sensitive by way of "easy to hurt" and in "sensing the grief of others."

* {{Bridezilla}}: Because weddings are often seen as the most important event in a woman's wife, brides tend to want things to go ''absolutely perfectly'', to the point that a typically cool or docile woman becomes ferocious and scary.

* TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask: She would normally be more delicate, but she's in charge, and can't afford to show weakness.

* BouquetToss: Since weddings are treated as the pinnacle of a woman's existence, ''every'' currently single woman will literally fight to catch the bouquet and be the one who's next in line. The one who ''does'' gets ribbed about being next, or how she's getting to be an OldMaid or ChristmasCake, or she may start to [[MyBiologicalClockIsTicking think about her biological clock]], even if it never bothered her before.

* ChristmasCake: Women hit an [[OldMaid "expiration date"]] in their mid-20's, after which they will have a harder time finding a husband or even a boyfriend because their potential partners have so many younger and prettier (and presumably more "innocent") women to choose from.

* SlapstickKnowsNoGender: Step aside {{Double Standard}} and WouldntHitAGirl! The climax on to women for comedic purposes is okay, or at least as okay as doing the same to a man.

-->-- '''A couple of [[Creator/{{Confucius}} Neo-Confucian]] [[http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/TWR-04.html proverbs.]]'''

* BeautyContest: A competition to determine who will be crowned the most beautiful female in the setting. Due to how badly the women in the setting want the title, it will become all-out war. A StrawFeminist will usually complain ([[TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong but be ignored]] and a UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} or WholesomeCrossdresser will typically win either to teach AnAesop or [[PlayedForLaughs for laughs]]).

* BoyfriendBlockingDad: What loving father wouldn't do everything in his power to protect his fragile daughter from potential love interests?

* BrattyTeenageDaughter: A stereotypical [[TeensAreMonsters teenage girl]] who is [[HystericalWoman overly emotional]], [[DramaQueen dramatic]], [[EntitledBitch entitled]], [[LackOfEmpathy shallow]], [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]], and [[TeensLoveShopping materialistic]], not to mention completely [[SmittenTeenageGirl boy-crazy]], putting her obsession with male attention over her friends and even [[DatingWhatDaddyHates her family]], and thus needs her sexuality and whereabouts policed by her [[OverprotectiveDad father]](or [[MySisterIsOffLimits other male family members in proximity]]) due to being too gullible and stupid to possibly make her own decisions.

* OverprotectiveDad: What loving father wouldn't do everything in his power to protect his fragile daughter from the outside world?