Write Away

I don't think that's what the author in the interview I mentioned was referring to, but I definitely get this definition. Though I kind of scoff at anyone, feminist or misogynist alike, who claims that certain traits or details are "feminine" or "masculine" - like, if female character A doesn't wear dresses she is hating on everything that makes up womanhood or something. But I understand some validity in the argument, too. Whether I like it or not, there are things that stereotypically define women, or at least are associated with them - and these traits are often considered weak or inferior, or just... feminine. If a character embraces stereotypically masculine things and despises stereotypically feminine things, that could - and might - have a message about gender roles.

And, as I think you're saying, there really isn't anything inherently revolutionary about the badass woman trope, because she does masculine things. Though I feel like, to be honest, most of these characters are rarely totally "masculine" and don't necessarily escape femininity - they often still fall into negative female tropes, like having to be saved, being hopelessly in love, etc. I don't feel most "badass woman" characters are necessarily all that "masculine."

But I agree passionately with your point about strength, too. There's nothing wrong with, say, a female character needing to be saved - it's just a bit of a stereotype. But a character, male or female, who is strong all the time just isn't realistic. Or particularly likeable, in my opinion. I think the important thing is that a character is authentic and real, and the author tries his or her best to treat them like genuine people. And there are many types of strengths, after all. Even in the fantasy genre, strength shouldn't really be reduced to ability to kill people with a sword. We need to expand our definition of strength, I think.

"Men with boobs" just seems dangerously apt to fall into grounds of simplifying what traits are acceptable for women and men, either from a feminist's perspective or a misogynist's. But I think the argument you've presented is an important one, too. Bearing in mind the reality of society more or less accepting that strong women act, dress and behave in a more "masculine" way, but if a man does the opposite, we see that femininity is still characterized as weak, disgusting and undesirable.