Los Angeles, April 9 (IANS): Singer Madonna insists that the society is still "very sexist" and she has faced a tough battle to defy expectations to be the person she wants to be.

"Don't be fooled, not much has changed -- certainly not for women. We still live in a very sexist society that wants to limit people. Since I started, I've had people giving me a hard time because they didn't think you could be sexual or have sexuality or sensuality in your work and be intelligent at the same time. For me, the fight has never ended," Madonna said.

The “Living For Love” hitmaker believes the key to her four-decade career is her strong sense of self, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"Popularity comes and goes. You need to know who you are, what you stand for, and why you're here," Madonna said in an interview accompanying her appearance on the cover of America's Cosmopolitan magazine's 50th anniversary issue.

Madonna, who raised children Lourdes, Rocco, David, and Mercy, doesn't worry about criticism she receives via social media because she knows the online bullies wouldn't be brave enough to make their remarks in person.

"You can hide behind your computer or your phone and say whatever you want -- you're not known. Could you say it to my face? Would you say it to my face? I doubt it," she added.