Taught Me the Difference Between Empowerment and Strength – The Mary Sue

Editors note: This articleoriginally appeared on ThePortalist.com, and is reposted here with permission.

In 1992, Sailor Moondebuted on Japanese television. Today, the show stands as a classic among shoujo anime. Its themes of friendship, true love, and compassion ring true through the decades, and with a few exceptions, its characters encouraged and inspiredyoung women in the East and West alike.Sailor Moon also succeeded in presenting alternative versions of empowerment that didnt rely on physicalstrength; the show reminded viewers that all people have weaknesses, and instead of shaming ourselves and others for this flaw, we should celebrate it and support one another.

This message has personal significance for me, as I figuredout my own transfeminine identity around the time I became a Sailor Moon fan. Seeing not just a heroic weak protagonist, but a team of girls who were allowed to fail and be insecure, helped me process theemotions that accompaniedmy transition. Below are fivetimes Sailor Moonprovided memorable lessons about vulnerability that apply to my own lifeand maybe to yours, too.

1. Sometimes Your Greatest Weakness Can Also Be Your Greatest Strength

Throughout the first season of Sailor Moon, Usagis perceived cowardice and lack of fighting skill make her the target of frequent jabs from other characters, mostly Luna and Rei. But this is because they dont understand where Usagis real power as Sailor Moon comes from; shes good at bringing people together, not hurting peopleespecially not Tuxedo Mask/Endymion/Mamoru, her destined moon lover.

Because of her championing oflove over violence, Usagi ultimately saves Mamorus soul from corruption by playing the shows theme song for him (yes, seriously) in episode 46: Usagis Eternal Wish: A Brand New Life.Thus restored, Mamoru saves Usagi from Queen Beryls subsequent attack, sacrificing his own life in the process. Usagis greatest weaknessesher inability to fight, coupled with her love for Mamoruturn out to be her greatest assets.

2. Empowerment Doesnt Mean Denying Your True Self

Having dreamt frequently of Usagis death and the destruction of Earth immediately after their wedding, Mamoru dumps Usagi without warning in episode 61: Usagi Devastated! Mamoru Declares a Breakup. When the two meet later to fight a hench-monster, Usagi demands an explanation for why he doesnt love her anymore. Mamoru summons up all the douchebaggery within him (which, judging by his behavior toward Usagi in season one, is a whole lot) and tells her that he doesns like weak women.

Usagi leaves thinking she needs to get stronger to win Mamorus heart back. Shesmistaken, of course. Mamoru is lying; he never fell out of love with her.Weakness is actually part of Usagis essence, and part of why Mamoru loves her. As we later see in episode 71, he even gets a little misty-eyed when seeing Usagi trip and fall while running to him.

3. Embracing Anxiety Can Be Beautiful

Everyone in the group bands together to support Usagi in Episode 71: Shared Feelings: Usagi and Mamoru in Love Once Again, as she struggles with her deep love for Mamoru despite his ridiculous reasons for breaking up with her. Jupiters line of comfort (which sadly isnt in the dub) is especially striking: Worries bring out the beauty in a girl, she smiles, suggesting that a personwithout anxiety or fear might be considered less beautiful than someone who embraces weakness and pushes forward. Hearing this nugget of wisdom from the most physically intimidating member of the Senshi speaks volumes about Jupiters character, and calls to mind Makos own insecurities about her femininity. As someone who worries about performing femininity in a way that looks and feels authentic, its nice to hear my hangups might actually improve my beauty!

4. Crying Is Healthy

In Episode 88: The Final Battle Between Light and Darkness! Love Sworn to the Future! Usagi rises up to defeat the seasons Big Bad on her own. Upon seeing this, Chibiusa is struck with remorse at having betrayed her friends after being tricked and corrupted by the Big Bad in previous episodes. Chibiusabegins to weep regretfully into Mamorus chest. Once she starts crying, though, the Silver Crystal falls into her handswhere it had been since she absorbed it into her body in the futureand Chibiusa suddenly has enough power to lend a hand in her mothers fight.

Crying is often viewed asthe ultimate form of weakness. Cis women who cry have their strength and judgment questioned, and are routinely dismissed ashysterical; trans women have the fun experience of unlearning years of toxic masculinity which tells them theyre not supposed to cry, even in the face of raging hormones and intense adversity. This is a lesson Ive personally struggled withI was intensely relieved after hormone replacement therapy unlocked my ability to cry, asmy dry face even at my fathers funeral had convinced me that I was emotionally broken. Inreality, its goodto open your heart togrief. In fact, as Chibiusa shows us, its often after a good cry that we collect ourselves and find a way through our pain.

5. Sometimes We Have to Lean on Others

In Sailor Moons series finale Episode 200: The Light of Hope: The Final Battle for the Galaxy Usagi attempts todefeat the Chaos that has corrupted Galaxia, restore the Light of Hope within her, and fulfill every magical girl trope at once. WhileUsagi shows her strength in this fight, shes utterly exhausted afterwards. Im not that strong, she says, rejecting Galaxias praise and beginning to cry. Once more, thepoint is made that were all entitled to moments of weakness. Whats more, we deserve support and love from those around useven in the moments after we feel our strongest.

In Sailor Moons final moments, Usagis classic monologue returns, informing us that shes still a crybaby and a little bit of a klutzbut shes also Sailor Moon, and she doesnt have to stop being one to be the other, because weakness and empowerment arent mutually exclusive. While I wish that idea had sunkin for me years ago, Im glad to have had it smack me in the face when I most needed it in my life. Being strong all the time is unrealistic, exhausting, and harmful; Id rather embrace my weakness and learn to coexist with it.

Sam Riedel is a freelance writer and editor from Brooklyn. She subsists on a balanced diet of noodles, Pokmon, and science fiction. Can be observed in her natural environment ontwitterortumblr. Prolonged contact may cause irritation.You can find more of Samswork at SamRiedel.com.

The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.

Follow The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google+.

Read the original post:

Taught Me the Difference Between Empowerment and Strength - The Mary Sue