For those who are unaware, "selfie" is an official term in the Oxford English Dictionary. A quick google search of the word yields a multitude of definitions, music videos, and even product advertisements (selfie stick, anyone?). Everyone seems to know what a selfie is -- and everyone seems to have an opinion on the subject.

It appears as though even the Oxford English Dictionary has snap judgements to make about the notorious selfie (note the example sentence).

Of course, both men and women take selfies. Both men and women post said selfies on social media. Both men and women are therefore subject to criticism for filling their social media with selfies. However, the majority of "selfie-shaming" is undeniably aimed at young girls. It is common practice to see young women slammed for posting selfies on social media, labelled as "narcissistic" and "superficial".

For the record, feeling comfortable in one's skin does not make one narcissistic. Actually, according to a study run by the National Institute of Media and Family, 53% of American girls aged 13 are unhappy with their bodies. This number grows to 78% by the time girls reach 17, and continues to increase steadily until early adulthood. Clearly, young women today do not have a pervasive problem with narcissism. Actually, they have a very apparent problem with low self-esteem and body confidence. Many of these insecurities are bred by the media's portrayal of what constitutes a "beautiful" woman.

To make myself clear, narcissism is an excessive interest in oneself and one's physical appearance. The term originates from a Greek myth in which a man drowns himself for lack of ability to tear himself away from his own reflection in a pool of water. The word also constitutes an entire class of personality disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. A girl posting a selfie is not narcissistic. The fact that it is framed as such speaks volumes to the attitudes society has towards women in general.

Just like any other person, I find egotism and superficiality off-putting. That is, I find legitimate egotism and superficially off-putting: two qualities that should not be confused with self-confidence and do not constitute a cause-and-effect relationship with taking photos of oneself.

It is very rare indeed to come across a woman who is entirely confident in her own appearance. Most girls struggle with self-image throughout their lives, and many are actually mocked for their physical appearance at one point or another. Why is it, then, that we as a society collectively criticize and scorn women for posting photos of themselves they feel good about?

When it boils down to it, why pass this judgement? Honestly, there has got to be something better to discuss in the news than a group of ASU sorority girls taking smartphone photos of themselves at a sports game. Can we spend our time discussing relevant world issues instead of tearing down young girls? Please?

Women today are caught between a rock and a hard place. We are told to love ourselves, to embrace our bodies and believe that we are beautiful, yet we are also mocked and ridiculed for outward demonstrations of self-confidence and self-love. The inherent message seems to be that you should love yourself, just not too much. That is the real problem--not the selfie.