Teenage girls don’t have the best reputation. The typical teenage girl trope features instability, hysteria and an obsession with boys. They’re known for being a mess of hormones and are never shed in a positive light. No matter what a teenage girl’s interests are or her appearance, she’s questioned, mocked or told to be something else. They can never get a break to be themselves. They are pressured to be perfect, yet no one really knows what the perfect teenage girl looks like.
Teenage girls can’t wear Uggs and drink Starbucks without being called basic. However, if a teenage girl wears flannels and listens to indie music, she’s still mocked. A girl could like comics and someone might say “Oh really? Name 5 comics!” A girl could be skinny and people always tell her to eat more. A girl could be overweight and be told to exercise.
As a teenage girl, I’ve been told countless times what to do. From being told to wear less makeup or to not be so emotional, I’ve felt that pressure to be someone different. Because of this constant pressure, I have always tried to fit in with the crowd. In middle school, I tried to like anime like all of my friends, but stopped when I was called a nerd for something I didn’t even like. At one point, I was on Tumblr 24/7 and blogged about Doctor Who and yet I was still told to be different. When I became a fan of One Direction, I thought that maybe I wouldn’t be judged because it’s typical for a teenage girl to like boy bands. Boy, was I wrong!
The day Zayn Malik left One Direction, I cried. I was a mess, drowning myself in cartons of chunky money ice cream while One Direction: This is Us played in the background. To this day, people still make comments about how it’s just a silly boy band and why on Earth would I cry over that? Whenever I mention my love for this silly boy band, people say “Oh no! You’re one of those girls.” I always have to defend myself over something I love.
My question is this: What’s so wrong about being one of those girls? What’s so wrong about listening to One Direction? What’s so wrong with listening to indie music and wearing flannels? What’s wrong with being boy crazy and wanting to go to the mall? Why do we judge every type of teenage girl? We aren't harming anyone by wearing leggings and drinking coffee or listening to mainstream music, so why are we criticized?
The teenage years are important for growth and gaining experience and yet we add even more pressure to girls. We’re told to be ourselves and not change ourselves for anyone else, but we are also constantly told what not to do. “Do this, but wait, not like that,” seems to be society’s message to teenage girls.
Let girls be themselves, let girls experiment with life without being labeled or criticized. As long as no one is being harmed, let girls be girls. Whether it’s the typical teenage girl trope or the total opposite, let teenage girls do their thing. Allow them to discover themselves, even if it doesn’t fit society’s mold.
Let girls wear as much makeup as they want. Let girls dye their hair and not act like a typical girl. Let girls wear pink and go shopping. Just let girls think for themselves and find their identities. Leave them alone and live your own life.
