Naginata meant "long sword ( there's other word for long bladed sword)" until 400 years ago. Many warriors took naginata a certain kind of lance. Then pax-Edo dominated all over Japan for 300 years under resembling form of civilian control, when naginata changed its meaning to "sweep sword".
Its ability in combat is formidable, more than a katana albeit it was not to be carried around in practicality and in matter of manners/politeness.
The rason why it is women's weapon, comes from its effectiveness to compensate for mustle, and the fact that it was bound to home like household woman, than its gracefulness or beauty. It's rather a lady's weapon than woman's. She needed enough space to wield it aroung in her house to make any use of techniques she learned.
And a naginata was thought to be a "mean" weapon for a man to learn, for it took "low blow" techniques to foot that very few kenjutsu taught.
Kenjutsu grew up a kind of fair play spirit in it, to be fought in a manner like boxing.
Well, very few people want MA any practicality in those days. In battlefield, bladed weapons had been backup weapons for 1000 years then, of bow and arrows first, taken place by guns and bullets later.
Today you have to invent our own purpose for naginata if you want one. Bottom line is wallhanger and practice.
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Otokohadaremo yumenofunanori.
Shonennohinoakogare shinutokimade wasurezunidaiterumonodayo.
