“Appropriate” means suitable or proper in the circumstances. To get the job done, you should use appropriate tools. But the word carries a deeper meaning, especially for women. From an early age, we’re taught to be "appropriate"’ in our behavior: to be ladylike, gentle, and sweet. Never harsh. Never assertive. Never too much. Whatever form of “appropriate” we choose to embody, there is no safe choice: we either sacrifice our effectiveness or risk being judged by society.