Being a girl who is 'one of the guys' is not always easy. Not only are men a handful at times, but there are some seriously misconstrued stereotypes surrounding us. We get dirty looks, accused of being 'promiscuous,' and overall are just given a bad name. There may be a few girls out there that deserve this, but most of us, however, do not. So, let me clarify some of these misconceptions for you:
1. No, we are not friends with them for attention.
I have a boyfriend, and he gives me all of the attention I need. Or like Tina said, "I'll pay attention to myself." I don't find it necessary to obtain attention from any and every guy I see. That is not what my friendships are about. I just so happen to enjoy their company a little more than yours. Sorry.
2. No, they aren't trying to sleep with us either.
Very rarely does one of our guy friends overstep their boundaries. Our friendships are not based off of sexual desires or fantasy -- they are based off of hours of video games and midnight runs to Taco Bell.
3. "If they aren't trying to sleep with you, why do they want to be around you all of the time?"
I am more than my appearance. I am more than my sexual reproductive organs. I have a personality. I have a sense of humor. I like dirty jokes, staying up late, watching sports and playing video games. We are friends because we have similar interests. We are friends because we get along. We are friends because our lives crossed paths, and we connected. There is no other reason.
4. We aren't necessarily a 'tomboy.'
We may be able to beat half of the guys you know in a 2K, or finish a 20-piece nugget meal in one sitting, but we can still be as girly as we want. Even if that means sporting a new dress and bold lip to a sports bar (where none of your boys will notice or care anyway).
5. Stop -- we don't want your boyfriend.
Stop hating us for always being around. I promise, it's not to take him from you. I have watched him burp the alphabet, and cleaned this throw up out of my bathtub -- it's just not like that. Most likely, we are rooting the two of you on from the side lines. We want what's best for him. If that is you, there is nothing for you to worry about.
6. No, girls don't just hate us.
We are not friends with boys because we have to be. We don't hate women, or vice versa. Having a bunch of boys around -- all of the time -- was never a part of the plan. Nor do we lack girl friends because of them not liking us. Our lives just kinda worked out this way, and we are OK with that.
7. Yes, we still have a soft side.
I cry during every chick flick I watch. I adore animals, and babies. I still appreciate grand romantic gestures, too. I may be 'one of the guys,' but I am still a girl at the end of the day. My friends do not affect that.
8. No, we don't burp or fart whenever we want.
Some of us may, but for the most part we are still pretty ladylike. My manners don't fly out of the window because of who I associate myself with. I'll take my beer with a lipstick stain, and an elbow-less table please.
9. We have a dude's appetite.
OK...this one may be true.
10. We are tough, or mean.
We still have feelings. We still go through PMS, and mood swings. We still pout, and whine, to our boyfriends. We still have a mother's love and endless compassion. We just have a little bit tougher of skin is all. We can't allow ourselves to get upset over every little thing; boys have a way of being brutally honest 99 percent of the time, and we are just used to it by now. Plus, we just really don't like confrontation.
11. We don't have any friends that are girls.
This is just so untrue. We may spend a little more time with our boys than we should. We may even have a substantially larger number of guy friends than girl friends. This doesn't mean we don't want/have girl friends, though. I see my boys every day, but my girls are my lifeline. We all have at least one.
12. "She's just a flirt."
If you think a guy will hang out with you every single day just because you flirt with him, then you don't know how guys really work.
