It's been said over and over, and it's true: it's a man's world. And, as the song goes, "I'm glad I'm a girl." Stereotypes can be used to give the body of people being stereotyped a certain kind of advantage.

Part of being a real bitch, the kind of bitch you'd be proud to claim to be, is getting something out of it. And not denying your femininity. You see women who deserve to be bitches, but they're dressed like boys. They've done the arguably quite wise thing and given up the costume of womanhood in favor of more comfortable, traditionally male clothing. But though they might have the attitude of bitchiness, it's not the first word that comes to mind. we're more apt to describe them as strong, down-to-earth, or maybe tomboys.

You earn the badge of pride, that word meant as an insult, when you fool people. You stand there on three inch heels and people expect you to topple. But you keep standing, and, moreover, you make it clear that you're capable of administering a carefully aimed roundhouse without losing your balance. And the people who want their women fashionable and handicapped and delicate cry, "Bitch!"

Which is, of course, exactly the result you were trying for.

The heels make a point. Not only are you a woman and quite competent to offer all the things a male world expects of your gender, you're capable of owning that world, despite your position in it. You're not about to be easily understood and thus controlled, because you symbolize contradiction. Someone tries to own you as a woman, you unsheath your claws; someone tries to tame you as a tiger, you bat your eyelashes and they apologize for handling you so roughly.

The point of being a bitch is avoiding being pulled under. You've got a personality that is, in itself, a secret weapon to be used for self-defense. Because it's flexible, you'll be able to slip out of most peoples' grasp. And as they gape at their empty hands, you'll stand there on your spikes, shaking your finger, the rest of you not shaking at all.