That’s Ms. Amazon to you.

When did the word “Amazon” become a blanket insult to women? I am 5’10” and even when I’m at my target weight, which I am not right now, I have a large bone structure for a woman. I still wear a “plus size” when I am at the weight I should be for my frame. I am, shall we say, plain-spoken and my boss thinks I’m Attila the Hun. A shrinking violet I am not. I have been called an Amazon since I was an early teen and towered over the boys who had not hit puberty yet. I did not know what an Amazon was at the time exactly, only that they were a dead bunch of women who fought things. I didn’t like anybody pointing out how tall I was or that I was different from the other girls, therefore I didn’t exactly like the name, “Amazon”. “Fit in at any cost” was the mantra I had been silently taught. I tried, truly I did.

It didn’t work.

I am different. It took me being in my mid-20’s to realize that being different was a FABULOUS thing. Taller than the other women? FABULOUS. Broader that the other women? FABULOUS. No problem standing up for myself? FABULOUS! Some people doesn’t like that? Their problem, not mine. I shouldn’t be wearing heels? HA! Deal with it.

Now I revel in it. I spread it around, shimmy down deep in it, bathe, flaunt and glory in the differentness. I own every cell of it and work it like I have a Ph.D. in Differentology.

Thank GOD we are not all the same. Thank GOD I’m an Amazon.

Some men have even adopted this “Amazon is an insult” idea. My boss commented about how tall I was one day and I replied, “Yep, I’m an Amazon.” He said, “Well, that’s not very nice.” I turned so I could look him in the eye and said, “Are you kidding me? Why not? Wonder Woman was an Amazon.”

I mean, seriously…How could being compared to this be an insult? Git,It.Girl. (By the way, a GIRL drew that Amazon down there.)

 

I have a co-worker who is female and 6’3”. She DESPISES people telling her she’s tall. She will verbally slice them to shreds in front of she-doesn’t-care-who if they dare to say she’s an Amazon. She’s 24 years old. I can only hope that she soon arrives at the same conclusion I did. Own it, sister. You can’t change it. Wear it like fine spun gold around your proud shoulders. Shimmy down deep in that skin, those legs God graced you with, in the knowledge of different and work it. Put on your heels and strut. They will fall down around you or get out of your way, one or the other.

I’m going to tell you a secret. If a man calls you an Amazon, 99.9% of the time, it’s a compliment. He most likely likes take charge, aggressive women packing weapons, waiting on nobody to help them do anything they can do on their own. He happens to like being wanted, not NEEDED. When a man calls you an Amazon, take it as the compliment it is. The correct response is, “Yes, sir, I am. What’ll you do for a peek at my Lasso of Truth?”