In Million Dollar Baby, champion boxer Maggie Fitzgerald triumphantly comes home with her newfound wealth and fame, only to have her mother tell her, "Find a man. Live proper." The film, which celebrates women in boxing, won an Oscar for best picture.

In the real world, though, does Maggie's mom represent the norm ‑ can women ever be perceived as both feminine and expert fighters? Guys sure seem to like Jennifer Garner on the series Alias, where she plays a secret agent who's both emotionally sensitive and a pro at hand-to-hand combat. But what's it actually like to be a woman who boxes?

Women who have seen Million Dollar Baby and who like their faces intact might be inclined to steer clear of the ring. Although the sport has become increasingly popular, gyms usually only offer women a noncontact version. In other words, you lay into a punching bag instead of another person. "People are intimidated because they think, 'Oh, boxing, it's getting hit in the face,' but the class isn't like that," explains Chau, 23, a singer who regularly attends New York Sports Club boxing classes.

At least in part, many women view the classes as an entertaining way to get exercise. Joanne, 38, an accountant, tried it out for the first time because she had seen that "everyone was having fun," and it beat the other options. "I tried yoga once... too passive," she explained. Lisa, 29, a salesperson, also likes how boxing "taps into that other side of you."