Song Meaning
The narrator asserts a fierce independence, stating, "I don't want to know" and "I didn't ask for advice." They claim ownership of their identity, "I am who I want to be and who I am," even when it's inconvenient. This initial defiance is immediately contextualized by the struggles faced "for being a woman too much," suggesting societal pressures that make simply existing as a woman a battle.
The central tension lies in the conflict between external expectations and internal self-definition. The lyrics reveal a vulnerability beneath the strength, admitting to having "many fears to tell" and acknowledging a desire to "blush." This contrasts with the societal perception of women needing to be stoic, highlighting the narrator's insistence on embracing a full spectrum of human emotion and experience, declaring "I am like you."
The repeated refrain, "I want to be / What I want / To be feminine / To be strong and be jasmine," is a powerful declaration of self-acceptance. The juxtaposition of "strong" with "jasmine" is particularly striking. Jasmine, often associated with delicate beauty and fragrance, is here elevated to a symbol of strength, suggesting that femininity itself possesses a resilient and potent power, not one that needs to mimic traditionally masculine traits.
This lyrical construction is effective because it dismantles restrictive notions of gender. The narrator doesn't just want to be strong; they want to be strong *and* feminine, embracing both aspects as integral to their being. The imagery of "glitter clothes" and the advice to "cry when you feel that crying is to vent" further emphasize the beauty and validity found in expressing a multifaceted, authentic self, challenging the idea that strength requires suppressing one's feminine nature.