very interesting that you evoke masculinity within a mother. the protective instinct has nothing to do with gender characteristics.
masculinity is an exhibition of the characteristics of an alpha male. is it limited to a man? in today's generation, i would say no.
I am trying to pull the concept of masculinity away from gender charactaristics, perhaps I need another word though, or perhaps I need to familiarize myself with the different nuances of the word "Yang-qi" so I am able to use it instead.