Strong women?

Someone directed me to this article on The Frailty Myth: http://www.colettedowling.com/work1.htm
There are some interesting points in there but it only touches on something that I've been thinking a lot about lately. I am not that concerned about what men think of me but I am increasingly bothered by female opinions.

People are entitled to have their bodies however the heck they want. If you are a parent, I would argue that you have a requirement to keep yourself in fairly decent health so you can look after your offspring but beyond that, it's up to the individual. Want to be obese? Go for it - if it makes you feel good. If you prefer the aesthetics of being underweight, again fine - if it makes you happy. What makes me feel good and happy is being fit and strong. The only negative thing about it is that people seem to feel free to pass comment on my body. Granted, I do live in the heart attack capital of Europe (perhaps even the world) so I do look noticeably different from the average joe walking down the streets. Being different does not, however, make me public property.

I have mentioned my Zumba class before and how much I enjoy it. I nearly didn't go back after my first time. I enjoyed the class and was on a high as I made my way out. As I got to the door, I heard a woman behind me say "Christ, would you look at the muscles on that!" in a tone that definitely didn't suggest admiration. Way to rain on my parade lady!

I was grabbed on the arm around mile 9 of a half marathon by a couple (a man and a woman). The woman wanted to know how I got my legs so 'horribly muscley'. Really? We are running a race - why are you surprised that I have leg muscles? You do too, they are just less visible. Furthermore, why do you feel the need to discuss this? My body is not your business.

My last boyfriend proclaimed that he loved my strength but did so in a way that made me feel about two inches tall: "Most men would hate it, but I think your muscles are great" Said that way, I'm not even going to hear the second half of that sentence.

Acquiring the mental strength to ignore all this has been far more difficult than making physical strength gains! For the record, at the moment I am not seriously ripped. I look athletic but that's about it. Unless I'm in my bikini you will likely not be aware that there is some serious weight training going on. I still look very much like a woman so the fact that I look different enough for comments to be made is a source of discomfort. Or rather, I should say, the fact that people make comments is a source of discomfort.

It's more than just an aesthetic issue. There's an undercurrent of strength being a masculine trait and thus not suitable/desirable for a female. More worryingly, much of the opposition and disapproval I come up against comes from women. It's a horribly pervasive view and, I think, deeply unhelpful when it comes to training. Muscle mass naturally declines as we age and ten million reps with an itty bitty pink dumbbell and some cardio will not help to prevent that. Lift some decent weight and you can maintain a more shapely figure for longer. I know which option I prefer. Still the fear of "bulking up" persists. It's bonkers.

So, what do we think peeps? Have you come up against any prejudice with your training or have people been supportive?