Society has come to view women in a very black-or-white way. You are either a girly-girl or a tomboy, a housewife or a business woman, and you can either be high maintenance or low maintenance. Since when are humans stuck on one side or the other, with no varying experiences or middle ground? I can be both a tomboy and a girly-girl. I would enjoy being both a housewife and a business woman, and I am both high maintenance and low maintenance.
There is no rule saying that you have to be one or the other, which means you definitely don’t have to label yourself as one or the other.Searching the web, these are the characteristics of a high maintenance woman according to a website called Divine Caroline:
1. Needs lots of time
2. Needs lots of effort
3. Are very fussy and particular
4. Are difficult and troublesome
5. Are annoying
6. Have high expectations of her partner or date
7. Will be quick to reject a person if those expectations are not met
8. Hard to please, not easily impressed
9. Takes forever to get ready
AKA: You are a snob who cares only about yourself and judges others.
Here are the characteristics of a low maintenance woman according to an article on Puckermob:
1. You can get along with just about anyone
2. You’re usually the first one ready to go out
3. Your favorite outfits are usually stolen ones
4. You’re sort of a minimalist
5. You can get down with some grunge
6. You go with the flow when it comes to making plans
7. You don’t cause, or take part in drama
8. You don’t need fireworks and a showboat for celebration
9. You don’t need doting, courting and gifts from your boo
10. You think that fancy, 5-star places are kind of silly
11. You’re not just about appearances
12. Covergirl has your life motto, not your makeup moto
AKA: You are a hippy.
Here is why I have an issue with society thinking that you have to be one or the other: I am parts of both. I take a long time to get ready because I do care about my appearance, only because I know that others will judge me. I can be fussy, particular, difficult and troublesome, but only because I am human and it is impossible to be happy every second of every day. Yes, I can be annoying, and I will admit to that. I have high expectations of my partner because I respect myself and expect to be treated well (as everyone should). I am, however, a fairly accepting person. I will not be quick to reject a person if they do not meet my expectations because I want to see the good in them and give them a chance to change. I am not hard to please or not easily impressed, because I am thankful for some of the smaller things that people sometimes take for granted.
As far as low maintenance characteristics, I do get along with just about anyone. Sometimes I am the most prepared one of the group and am ready to go out faster, and most of my clothes come from Goodwill or my friend’s closets that they no longer wanted. I’m hardly a minimalist, but it doesn’t mean I’m materialistic. There are some days that an un-showered ponytail, leggings and a sweatshirt are as dressy as it gets, but I’m not necessarily grungy. There are a lot of days that I go with the flow, but I’m also a planner. I avoid drama in any way that I can and try to squash it when possible. And it’s true, the fancier celebrations, restaurants and gifts do not appeal to me as much as a genuine time spent with the people I love. I’m not just about appearances, but I know that society is.
But even if you are simply one or the other, what is so wrong with being either? Between being strong-willed and knowing what you want, or going with the flow and placing cares elsewhere, neither of them sound like terrible things unless you are terrible to people. Why are we putting down women with a label-baring negative connotation for dressing nicely or for being more natural? As far as I’m concerned, you could be high maintenance and be extremely kind or low maintenance and still act like a jerk. I don’t care if you wear makeup every day or if you choose to boycott five-star restaurants in exchange for McDonald's, as long as you are nice. Be whoever you want to be and act however you want to act without worrying about the label being attached to it. I am a lower high maintenance woman, and I couldn’t care less as long as the people around me, as well as myself, are happy.
