body tissues that contract to produce movement
Latin musculus 'little mouse', from the appearance of flexing
Muscles look like little mice moving under your skin when you flex!
Physical strength has been coded as male and valued as a marker of competence in contexts beyond athletics. Women with strength or visible muscularity have been pathologized or excluded from spaces where strength is desirable.
Decouple strength from gender when discussing capability. Avoid phrases like 'he has the muscle to decide' when discussing authority—capacity, power, or authority work equally well.
["strength","capacity","capability","power"]
Female athletes, laborers, and performers have demonstrated extraordinary physical capability; celebrating women's strength directly counters historical erasure of female bodies as weak.
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