Women make up over 160 million people in America according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Merriam-Webster defines a woman as an adult female person. Mariano Montague, 23, of Hastings-On-Hudson, New York, says, “a woman is someone with nurturing, motherly values. Women are the second half of the puzzle, that is necessary to continue the cycle of life.” He goes on to say, “the topic can be controversial because there are many stereotypes of what women need to be.”
Alajah Whitehead, 26, of Elmsford, New York, says a woman is, “someone strong, independent, and fearless.” They “naturally take care of people,” she said. Taneka Bryant, 41, of White Plains, New York, says, “a woman is strength and independence and love because those are the examples of the women that have been around all my life growing up.” Taneka has seen a positive example from the woman who came before her. “I’ve always seen my grandmother and mother and aunts go out there and work. And they worked hard.” DeJuan Harris, 25, from the Bronx, New York, sums up Mariano, Alajah, and Taneka’s sentiments in just six words. “A woman is a powerful being.”
The controversy lies in today’s womanhood because it’s changing. Going back to Webster, the term womanhood is defined as the state of being a woman. Sometimes women are ascribed male at birth. Many people believe that whatever someone is ascribed at birth is what they’re meant to be for life. “I think today’s biggest controversy of what a woman is, is differentiating the two terms, women and female,” says Mariano. “As gender fluidity is becoming more normalized, transgender people, or people that would like to change their gender expression, would like to feel just accepted and equal to a natural born female,” he adds. Some people might argue what a “natural-born female,” is.
Issa D.A. Page, 26, of Stonecrest, Georgia, says, “a woman is not her skin, her hair, [or] her nails. She is not her menstrual cycle, or her raging dopamine levels. She is her intuition to know the truth from fabrication. She is her strength to stand for a cause and against any giant who threatens that. She is the one to not be silenced.” Anthony Martinez, 24, of Staten Island, New York echoes those very same sentiments.
Anthony is someone comfortable living their truth. According to Anthony, a woman, “doesn’t care what nobody has to say.” According to Anthony, regardless of cultural background, a woman speaks her mind. “A woman respects herself enough to stand up for herself no matter what the case or scenario may be,” Anthony says. To define a woman is limitless. I guess that is why it’s controversial, said Khendra David, 33, of Mount Vernon, New York. There is no singular thing that can describe me as a woman. I can tell you this, it is not for the faint heart, let alone being a Black woman in America.”
Daeneesha Pope, 29, a Brooklyn, New York native, says, “society has made a major impact on what it takes to be a woman.” She says that, “people define women by their status, materialism, gender, finances, and body goals.” “In 2022 girls and women are outspoken,” Taneka adds. “We can now bring up issues that affect us as women for example equal pay for the same job as a man.”
After hearing the thoughts of folx from around the country, we have our answer. A woman… is a woman.
Dennis Richmond, Jr., is an author and journalist focused on the Black, Latinx, and LGBTQIA+ Community. He lives in Yonkers. Follow him on Twitter @NewYorkStakz.
