Effortless Amazonian Lift: Difference between revisions

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A [[Distaff Counterpart]] to [[Bridal Carry]], this refers to women visually displaying the strength to lift and carry someone similar-sized or heavier than herself in her arms. This trope is used in an attempt to subvert gender expectations, and show that the woman in question has unusual physical strength. When involving a couple, it can also be used to show who wears the pants in the relationship. Usually displayed by a [[Cute Bruiser]] or a [[Big Gal]]. When done by someone with no such characteristics, it is even more notable.

 

Obviously a form of [[Double Standard]]. A man carrying someone is considered [[Omnipresent Trope|omnipresent]], since men are expected to excel in the physical department. Related to [[Muscles Are Meaningless]].

 

* In ''[[Bleach]]'', after Kenpachi's duel with Ichigo, [[Killer Rabbit|Yachiru]] carries the former on her shoulder to get medical attention. A particularly impressive use of the trope because Kenpachi is very tall and muscular, while Yachiru looks like an eight-year-old but manages to ''effortlessly'' carry him to the top of a building by performing multiple ''two-story high jumps'' while carrying him. One of the author's many hints that she's more dangerous than she looks.

* Kei from ''[[Dirty Pair]]'' easily lifts a grown man and swings him over her shoulder to rescue him from heavy enemy fire. It's meant to emphasize her position as the "muscle" and [[Tomboy]] of the [[Tomboy and Girly Girl]] duo she forms with Yuri.

* In ''[[Lovely Complex]]'', [[Huge Schoolgirl|Koizumi]] carries Otani in her arms after he failed to escape her. She manages to carry him quickly into a changing room while he struggles to get down. It's obvious who wears the pants in this ralationship.

* ''[[Ranma ½]]'' plays with this.

** In a straighter example, [[Action Girl|Shampoo]] demonstrates the strength to catch [[Badass in Distress|Mousse]] in her arms after she saves him from a villain, continuing the trend of her being the dominant one in their "[[Unresolved Sexual Tension|relationship]]".

* Makoto Kino of ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' is the group's [[Big Guy]] and physically the strongest of the Inner Senshi. In her debut, she lifts a guy over her head, with no signs of physical strain. She also does this during an ice-skating scene, and in a dancing scene, demonstrates the strength to lift Ami by the ''waist''. And she does that without transforming into Sailor Jupiter.

* In ''[[Pokémon Special]]'', 10-year-old [[Wild Child|Sapphire]] can carry three fully-grown adults on her back. While ''sprinting''.

* Played for laughs in ''[[Fushigi Yuugi]]'' when dainty [[Wholesome Crossdresser]] [[Super Strength|Nuriko]] sees a weightlifting contest in progress, effortlessly picks up and holds the current contestant ''and'' the weight ''overhead'', and walks away with the prize.

 

== Comic Books ==

* In one of the [[Archie Comics]] there is a couples surfing competition where the man lifts the woman up while on a surfboard on the ocean, but when Archie is too weak to pick up Betty, Betty carries Archie!

 

 

* ''Adam's Rib''. As part of her defense strategy to show that women are like men so they should be treated the same, Amanda calls a circus strongwoman to the stand. The strongwoman demonstrates that women can be as strong as men by picking up Adam, who is both Amanda's husband and the district attorney trying the case.

* Played with in ''[[Ever After (film)|Ever After]]''. When Danielle and Henry are attacked by gypsies, Danielle is told she can take "anything she can carry" and get away. She proceeds to pick up Henry and walk away carrying him on her shoulders. In this case, the action is meant to emphasize her audacity and determination, rather than strength. Charmed by it, the gypsies invite them to stay for a meal.

 

== Literature ==

* In the ''[[Mercy Thompson]]'' series, a female firefighter who's a werewolf was pleased when werewolves abandoned their [[The Masquerade|masquerade]], because it allowed her to play this trope straight when saving people, rather than feign being no stronger than a non-werewolf woman.

 

== Live-Action TV ==

* In the beginning of ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]'', [[Action Girl|Lightning]] shows the strength to carry her younger sister, Serah, without showing any fatigue. The action is also meant to show Lightning's protective feelings toward her sister.

* Colette from ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]'' at some point lifts [[The Big Guy|Regal]] to take him along with them. ''One handed.'' [[Muscles Are Meaningless|And then she comments that he's lighter than she thought.]] While he's twice her height and more muscular.

* In the [[Mass Effect (video game)|first]] and [[Mass Effect 3|third]] ''[[Mass Effect]]'' games, a female Shepard can just pick Kaidan up to carry him into the ''Normandy'' if he can't walk even with assistance.

** Completely justified in that Shepard a super-strong, hyper-resilient cyborg by [[Mass Effect 3]], and of course in [[ME 1]] she is an Alliance marine, of whom receive top-notch training and gene mods that enhance their abilities far beyond those of the average person.

 

== Western Animation ==

* In the first episode of ''[[The Legend of Korra]]'', Korra lifts Tenzin and his three children into a hug without breaking a sweat.

* ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'' loves to show just how strong Starfire is. Wether it's lifting Beast Boy in hippo mode, lifting ten times more weight than Cyborg can with JUST ONE ARM or even being the only one out of the Titans who can lift a special Tamaranian goblet (which is apparently made out of depleted uranium).

 

== Real Life ==

 

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