Reader Chloe has a question that could get you thinking… and change the way you see yourself! Take a look!
Chloe says:
So… what is a girl? Is it a gender? Is it simply a group of people who are all the same? That's for you to decide, but choose wisely. I can assure you, there's a chance it will have changed by the end.
There's this insult - I like to call it the 'like a girl' insult. Do you run 'like a girl'? Fight 'like a girl'? What are the first images that come into your head when asked these questions? Cat fights? Skipping, stumbling and worrying if you've got sweat patches? Do you know when you tell someone between the ages of ten and sixteen this, their confidence could plummet? Do you know that when you use the 'like a girl' insult you could be offending not just one person but a whole group of people called females? Currently for girls everywhere, there is an image you must copy to be 'normal'. You must be born female, have perfect hair, you must wear make up, you must wear the right clothes, you must have flawless skin and a flawless figure. Basically, in other words, you must be perfect. Well, guess what, I'm not perfect, and I hate to break it to you… you're not, either. I know that sounds harsh, but I don't think of it that way because matter of factly, I know what a girl is.
My question for you is, how many times have people called you things or used the 'like a girl' insult on you? How many times has it brought you down? How many times has it made you feel hopeless and useless? Or like it's just not worth it anymore? Trust me, I've been there.
Now, what is a girl? Is it having pride in who you are? Is it doing stuff 'like a girl' and doing it proudly? Is it being so amazingly imperfect? Is it standing up for who we are as a female in society? You choose, because you have the right to be the female you want to be, the female you choose. Remember, female has no figure, size, race, eye colour, hair, body. It's free for you to choose that and everything else about you…
Watch the powerful 'Like A Girl' video/advert which inspired Chloe's words… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs
Cathy says:
Wow… I love this video and I think Chloe's feature is awesome. When did 'like a girl' become an insult? I'm proud to be female, but I came across lots of judgements on what I could or should be doing as I was growing up, just because I was a girl. It wasn't as easy to brush aside back then. Do YOU feel pressured to act or look a certain way because you're a girl? COMMENT BELOW to have your say...
So… what is a girl? Is it a gender? Is it simply a group of people who are all the same? That's for you to decide, but choose wisely. I can assure you, there's a chance it will have changed by the end.
There's this insult - I like to call it the 'like a girl' insult. Do you run 'like a girl'? Fight 'like a girl'? What are the first images that come into your head when asked these questions? Cat fights? Skipping, stumbling and worrying if you've got sweat patches? Do you know when you tell someone between the ages of ten and sixteen this, their confidence could plummet? Do you know that when you use the 'like a girl' insult you could be offending not just one person but a whole group of people called females? Currently for girls everywhere, there is an image you must copy to be 'normal'. You must be born female, have perfect hair, you must wear make up, you must wear the right clothes, you must have flawless skin and a flawless figure. Basically, in other words, you must be perfect. Well, guess what, I'm not perfect, and I hate to break it to you… you're not, either. I know that sounds harsh, but I don't think of it that way because matter of factly, I know what a girl is.
Now, what is a girl? Is it having pride in who you are? Is it doing stuff 'like a girl' and doing it proudly? Is it being so amazingly imperfect? Is it standing up for who we are as a female in society? You choose, because you have the right to be the female you want to be, the female you choose. Remember, female has no figure, size, race, eye colour, hair, body. It's free for you to choose that and everything else about you…
Watch the powerful 'Like A Girl' video/advert which inspired Chloe's words… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs
Cathy says:
Wow… I love this video and I think Chloe's feature is awesome. When did 'like a girl' become an insult? I'm proud to be female, but I came across lots of judgements on what I could or should be doing as I was growing up, just because I was a girl. It wasn't as easy to brush aside back then. Do YOU feel pressured to act or look a certain way because you're a girl? COMMENT BELOW to have your say...
I've probably heard "like a girl" once or twice in my life but a fat chance it has of bringing me down! If someone says I run like a girl, do they mean I run like my mum (sorry Mum!) or Paula Radcliffe? Girls are obviously not one and the same just because of their gender. Boys neither, they're all different too. Gender is just one of many labels to conveniently identify people - it's not meant to segregate or pit people against each other. There should be no female vs male, no black vs white, no straight vs gay. Labels are for identification, they're not weapons. But I guess it's human nature to turn harmless words into swords and to find happiness in depleting the happiness of others. That tends to be why I get annoyed rather than upset - no one's taking anything from my meagre supply of happiness! Eh. Bit of a tangent. Still. My opinion stands. You can't cram 51% of the population into one personality group.
ReplyDeleteNo matter if you are a girly, feminine-obsessed girl or an adventurous tomboy, your personality should never affect your gender! You are who you are, no-one can change that. No-one can decide what you like or dislike, what you want or don't want or what you want to be or not to be. The others aren't going to force you to get what they want from you! It's your decision; you make it. Don't let them. It's your life, not theirs. Look at how the world has changed over the years by following your heart and soul, motivated by your dreams along the way. Judgements are only set in your path to test you, your determination and capability, nothing else. Don't let them get into you. First it was with racism, but thanks to our noble peace award winner this issue has heavily reduced. Now it's with sexism - by doing your best to brush aside the nasty, evil comments you get given from your peers even if it feels like that is IMPOSSIBLE, remember that the word itself says I'm possible.
ReplyDeleteI've come across a lot of pressures as a girl when I was growing up to wear make up and fashionable clothes. The truth is, I'm not much of a fan of make up. It takes too long to put on, and its just smudges and makes me skin feel heavy and weighed down. And you know something? My skin looks a lot better and clearer for it! As for fashionable clothes...no thanks. If I'm comfy in clothes I will wear them, even if they're not featured on the latest catwalk designs. I don't care if they are years out of date; I don't see why I should spend a fortune on new clothes each season when I have some at home that are still wearable.
ReplyDeleteThere were a lot of 'girly' girls at school who tried to get me interested in make up and fashion and all things stereotypically pink and girly, but I wasn't interested. These were the groups of girls that would laugh and tease me about the fact I was interested in hockey and football and planes and cars, and the fact I was an air cadet. So what if I was seen as 'a bit of a tomboy?' There's nothing wrong with that. It made me happy and was something I was interested in. It was my choice to like these things and maintain an interest in them.
Being a girl is about being yourself, not what others want you to be.
Yep, I definitely agree.
DeleteThere is too much sexism that is still in this world. I'm a strong femenist and believer in womens rights, I have to agree with you.
ReplyDeleteLove this!<3 Hamdi:)xox
ReplyDeleteYou do not know how many times my friends that are boys have been told that they have screamed like girls.I am now questioning if they sound like strangled cats or opera singers!
ReplyDelete