An electrical connector assembly comprising: a female connector; and a male connector releasably coupled to said female connector along a mating axis so that a plurality of female terminals disposed in the female connector are matable to a plurality of male terminals in the male connector, the male connector including a shroud that includes a generally planar retractable stabilizer perpendicular to said axis and disposed in the shroud, said retractable stabilizer movable in said shroud between a blade alignment position when the connector assembly is unmated and a seated position when the connector assembly is mated together, the seated position being axially remote from the blade alignment position, said retractable stabilizer including, a base defining a plurality of holes there through adapted for receiving the plurality of terminals, characterized by said shroud including at least one aperture there through and at least one blocking feature disposed on an inner surface of the shroud, the base including, - at least one position arm extending from the base and in communication with the at least one aperture for securing the retractable stabilizer in the blade alignment position when the connector assembly is unmated, - at least one retention feature in communication with the blocking feature to prevent the retractable stabilizer from moving beyond the blade alignment position in the shroud when the connector assembly is unmated, and - a securing member extending from the base in communication with the female connector when the connector assembly is mated together and configured to release the female connector when the retractable stabilizer is disposed at the blade alignment position when the connector assembly is unmated, wherein the securing member is V-shaped, a base portion of said V-shape being secured to the base of the retractable stabilizer, and extended members of the V-shape include nibs communicating with shoulders of the female connector when the connector assembly is mated together, said extended members of said base portion being configured for inward flexure to release the female connector from the securing member when the male and the female connector are unmated. a female connector; and a male connector releasably coupled to said female connector along a mating axis so that a plurality of female terminals disposed in the female connector are matable to a plurality of male terminals in the male connector, the male connector including a shroud that includes a generally planar retractable stabilizer perpendicular to said axis and disposed in the shroud, said retractable stabilizer movable in said shroud between a blade alignment position when the connector assembly is unmated and a seated position when the connector assembly is mated together, the seated position being axially remote from the blade alignment position, said retractable stabilizer including, a base defining a plurality of holes there through adapted for receiving the plurality of terminals, - at least one position arm extending from the base and in communication with the at least one aperture for securing the retractable stabilizer in the blade alignment position when the connector assembly is unmated, - at least one retention feature in communication with the blocking feature to prevent the retractable stabilizer from moving beyond the blade alignment position in the shroud when the connector assembly is unmated, and - a securing member extending from the base in communication with the female connector when the connector assembly is mated together and configured to release the female connector when the retractable stabilizer is disposed at the blade alignment position when the connector assembly is unmated, wherein