Lady Gaga has written an impassioned essay detailing her upbringing, motivations, and views on womanhood.

The piece, published in the November/December issue of Harper’s Bazaar, sees the “Perfect Illusion” singer share her opinion on what it’s like to be a woman today. In it, she discusses the importance of being “tough” in difficult times, as well as the benefits of being vulnerable. 

“For a long time... there was a shame that I carried with me,” Gaga writes. “I'm an Italian Catholic—I grew up with a lot of guilt. But what I've started to realize is that my rebelliousness, if you want to call it that, is something that was passed along to me by a long line of tough people – and tough women – in my family.”

Hinting at her own experiences with depression, she continues: “Being a lady today means being a fighter. It means being a survivor. It means letting yourself be vulnerable and acknowledging your shame or that you're sad or you're angry. It takes great strength to do that.”

Gaga has become a vocal advocate for women’s rights throughout her career; speaking out against victim shaming, sexual assault, and sexism in the music industry. She also campaigned heavily against Donald Trump in the recent election, staging a one-woman demonstration outside New York’s Trump Tower in the early hours of November 9.

“Health, happiness, love – these are the things that are at the heart of a great lady,” the singer concludes. “That's the kind of lady I want to be. You know, I never thought I'd say this, but isn't it time to take off the corsets? As someone who loves them, I think it's time to take them off.”

Read the full essay here.