“I’m not like other girls.”
“You’re not like other girls.”
How many times have both girls and guys thrown around these sentences? The answer is too many.
In today’s society, being told that you aren’t like other girls is taken as a compliment. Maybe you were told this because you like sports or don’t like the color pink or some other bogus stereotype that places you outside of the “girl” box. When someone says this, or you say this about yourself, the message is that you aren’t like the stereotype that all girls are sensitive, whiny, hate sports, and weak. This phrase seems harmless, but it causes women to think that there is a problem with being a girl.
Growing up, I was considered a tomboy. I dived into every sport, hated the color pink and wearing dresses, and didn’t get along with a lot of the girls in my grade because I thought they were too “girly." I grew out of the basketball shorts phase, but I never became a “girly girl.” I would have peers and adults alike tell me I wasn’t like other girls, and they would always say it as a complement. It took me 17 years to realize that this phrase was not a complement at all.
With sexism still very prevalent in our society, the last thing we need is for girls to feel superior to other girls because they act less like a girl. The sad part of all this is that it makes it seem like girls can’t have multiple interests. If you are a girl that loves the color pink and wears makeup, then people seem to think there is no way you could also love sports or have any other “guy” interests. And if you are a girl that is more interested in cars than reality TV, then society says there is no way you could love shopping or have any other “girly” interests.
I am proud to be like other girls. It shouldn’t have to be said, but girls are strong, hardworking, kind, and have every right to all different interests. I would be happy to hear someone tell me “You’re like other girls” because that is a great complement.
