I love pink. I love shopping and I’m bad at saving money. I often wear dresses and makeup. I have never played sports. My physical appearance is petite and thin. I am emotional and sometimes a drama queen. I want to be an elementary school teacher, yet I wouldn’t mind being a stay-at-home mom either, because I love children. I squeal when I’m around baby animals. I am a hopeless romantic who watches chick-flicks and dreams of getting married to my prince charming. I talk a lot. I am not good at math or science. I rarely curse. I am soft-spoken and at times unassertive. From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always liked all things “girly” and I would say I have grew up to be very stereotypically feminine.

In the past, I have had to deal with people not taking me as seriously because of my femininity. In middle school there were girls who thought they were “cooler” than me because they were “one of the boys” or because their daily attire consisted of athletic shorts and a t-shirt. I didn’t judge them based on what they liked or wore, even when I didn’t like it. So I never understood why I was judged based on the clothes I wore and the things I like? When did being “girly” become such a bad thing? I have never thought I was suppose to be ashamed of being a woman. Yet, high school came around and so did the term “feminist”. Suddenly, it was cool to be a feminist. One girl patronized me and called me a “bad-feminist” because I was a girly girl. On one hand I believe that women who refuse to conform to the cookie cutter female image should not suffer for doing so. No one should ever be made to feel inferior because of their appearance, gender, sexuality or race - men as well! On the other hand, people like me who fit in the stereotype should not be looked down on either. The feminist movement was suppose to be about equality, right? I couldn’t understand why this so called “feminist” in my high school thought it was okay to put other girls down for having more traditionally feminine qualities.

The fact that pink is my favorite color does not make me ditzy. I am going to wear whatever I want to wear, because I am expressing myself and I deserve that right. My size says nothing about my strength. Just because I’m sensitive, doesn't mean I’m weak. So what if I want to pursue a traditionally women dominated job? Whatever path I choose to take, I am going to be proud. I’m not going to let anyone make me feel like what I’m hoping to achieve is any less important than a corporate career or having the right to call myself a doctor. So what if the path I want is to create a great future for my children, or to support my husband while we make a beautiful life together? I want to give my children the fundamental family unit I lacked growing up. I want to show them what real love and affection is -someone to nurture and guide them. Even so, I can still be a strong and independent women who knows her worth and will be okay on her own. I may talk a lot, but what I have to say matters. What I have to say is worth hearing. Above all, while my demeanor may come across as timid and polite, I have a voice that will stand up for myself and those around me. I am not afraid to fight back. I am a fearless women who has the power to change the world.

There is something quite heartbreaking about a society that makes young girls and women feel like they either need to be girly, or that they must totally reject it altogether. I am growing up in the age of women trying to be equal. I have been urged to never settle for less. I was told to find the cure for cancer, to create that business, and to get paid just as much as the boys. I have grown up, for the most part, supported and fought for by other women, so our futures could be bright and equal. But being a women and being labeled as “girly” shouldn’t be such a terrible thing. Being a “girly girl” doesn’t mean you can’t be strong, tough, brave and intelligent about the things that matter the most. The way I see it, being “girly” should be associated with the fierce and powerful women of our past. Being “girly” should mean all the things women have accomplished and if “girly” could represent the women of our past, then I am proud to be labelled as such.