If you've been on Tumblr for the last several years, you are probably familiar with the phrase "I'm not like other girls." Basically, this phrase is usually said by middle school and early high school girls to make themselves feel better about themselves and their interested. In reality, these girls are some of the most insecure girls I have ever seen on the internet.

Some of the interests of "other girls" that are often put down are usually stereotypical "feminine" interests such as makeup, popular music, tight clothing, etc. and is usually said by girls who enjoy video games, rock music, anime, etc. The biggest problem I have with this phrase the most obvious reason to have a problem with it.

What exactly do these girls mean by not being like "other girls"?

The thing is that every girl is different in their own ways, so no girl is like another girl whether it be through tastes in music, movies, television, books, fashion, or anything else. Every one is a complex being, so clumping "other girls" into one specific category does not make you look good in the long run.

Another problem I have with the phrase is the fact that girls use this phrase to feel different or special from everyone else. The thing is that there are so many girls out there who enjoy video games or anime, so trying to feel different just because you enjoy those things is pointless in the long run. What I am trying to say is that you're not special by any means just because you enjoy things that are not stereotypical "feminine" because there are a lot of other girls that enjoy those kinds of things too; and that's pretty obvious knowing how many girls really do brag about not being like other girls.

The final reason I have a problem with this phrase is that it is actually very sexist when you think about it.

When a girl says that they are not like other girls, what they are really doing is putting other girls down to make them look better. I am a firm believer of building other women up and not putting them down, regardless of if we have similar interests or different interests. It also reinforces the belief that feminine interests are inherently bad when really that is absolutely not the case at all. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean that the interest is overall bad.

I will admit that I was one of those girls that would often say this a lot when I was 14 years old. I didn't know any better at the time and I thought I was special and edgy myself when I was saying that. When I got older, I realize that I was very insecure at the time (or at least a lot more insecure than I am now) and I don't want others making that same mistake. I just want others to realize that bragging about liking certain things makes you look insecure.