How would you as an individual describe the term “girl power”? Before you possibly roll your eyes, this is not a question only for females. Even as a male, it’s possible to create a perception of “girl power” based on personal role models, things portrayed in the media and so on. However, being a female, this term certainly has the ability to quickly bring up many different pictures and ideas, some being extremely similar or different.

For example, my definition of girl power brings to mind many women fighting, working and sticking together against difficult obstacles. Similar to the DC Comics character “Wonder Woman,” who comes from a mythical island consisting solely of women, there exists a fantasy of a world where girl power rules society, and all women have the same goal in mind; to be strong individuals who refuse to submit to the harsh societies that put them down throughout history.

Of course, this fantasy is one of the semi-extreme pictures of girl power, hence the superhero backstory reference. But I think it exists as one of the most common ones. The two words, “girl” and “power,” mingle in a way that allude to strength in the female realm, and almost immediately bring up a feeling of union against a common evil.

When girl power comes into play within a female group of friends, for example, it is typically being used as a response to some kind of social or environmental cue, like an outside force causing hardship on the females/a female in the group. This is a perfectly normal response, and is encouraged, since females have the unique ability to really connect with one another during times of adversity, especially when it threatens the world of women everywhere.

So, how could the concept of girl power become negative? If we modernize this term, it essentially becomes feminism. Let me start by saying that feminism is NOT a negative term, and should not be considered as such from the start. However, such as any movement or principle, there are some who practice feminism in ways that do not always serve for the equality its pure definition stands for.

Here’s where I’m getting at: girl power is amazing, women are amazing, but we should not encourage our female companions, friends and family to believe that females are the superior sex. We are all human beings; males, females and everyone in between all have the ability to be “bad” people. It is certainly important to recognize the struggles that females have faced, and to continue to fight for equality among all sexes. However, creating the idea that a world without males or others, or a world where females had the upper hand, would be better than the world we have now, is harmful to the process of gaining universal equality.

Of course, the exclusive form of girl power still applies to many situations. For example, the feminine magic and strength that women possess cannot always be replicated by the opposite sex. We women have a lot to offer to the world, and it's totally OK to feel like girl power should only be used by us sometimes. Simply put, girl power should be used for good, and not turned into something that has the potential to turn harmful.

It’s difficult to accept this concept sometimes, I understand. Women have faced so many hardships in the past, and continue to be considered less than in many societies, governments and economies. We want to scream and fight when we see our sisters around the world being discouraged, tormented or repressed simply because they are females and placing blame on anyone who is unable to truly feel this pain becomes the easiest thing in the world.

But, creating an exclusive circle and lifting our fists against those who try to understand does no good. Instead, we have to teach others, and ourselves, that “girl power” is a gift that should be shared with the world.

I am a feminist. But I do not believe that women deserve more than men. Females can do a lot of amazing things, but so can males. And the great part is that each individual, regardless of gender, can prove the traditional system incorrect by combining both female and male characteristics.

Overall, I think all human beings have the power to create good, fight for the wellbeing of our fellow companions and rise above evil that can be found throughout the world. With true equality, we can all be superheroes and have the “human power” that is needed to sustain a peaceful universe.