In our world of Caitlyn Jenners, Nicki Minajs, and Beyonces, females ages three to 93 don’t have to look too far for inspiration.
But 30 years ago, that wasn’t exactly the case.
My parents grew up idolizing Bruce Jenner for being one of the strongest, toughest, and all together best athletes in the world. They walked down the cereal aisle at Safeway, seeing his face on every Wheaties box. The decathlete was, in many ways, a “manly man.”
If we remain oblivious and believe that the genders are equal, why does the term “girly girl” have such a negative connotation while it would be an honor to be referred to as a “manly man”?
And why are so many girls hesitant to embrace the title of “feminist”?
American media, from magazines to movies, preach on the idea that women either have to be ditsy and attractive, or intelligent but awkward. However, I like to believe that feminism is individualistic, and the ideology can be defined in hundreds of ways. Feminism isn’t a Brandy Melville shirt; one size definitely does not fit all.
I don’t know why young women are afraid to be strong and independent. I have the privilege to be raised in a household where I am reminded on a daily basis that I am free to be whatever I want to be. I have known since I was a toddler that I am so much more than how our society defines me.
As a society, we are constantly evolving. I have been around for a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, the first black president, the assassination of Bin Laden, and recently, the federal legalization of same sex marriage. And I’m not even a legal adult yet.
In my short 15 years on this planet I am lucky enough to call home, my eyes have been opened in many different ways. I have seen enough to know that it is time to stop targeting women and putting them into cookie cutter personas. Humans are way too complex to be defined in just a few words.
Applying labels to people, whether they are good or bad, is something we are all guilty of. I would be lying to myself if I were to claim that I had never absent-mindedly judged someone solely on their appearance.
Come on, I am a female. I should be striving towards lifting other females up because I know how difficult life can be for a teenage girl. But of course I still have moments where I question a girl’s hair or silently wonder, “what’s up with her outfit?”.
I heard a saying a few years ago that has stuck with me. “The first thought that runs through our minds is what we are conditioned to think, but our second thought is who we are.”
Yes, I remind myself of this in those judgmental instances, but I want to see those first thoughts changed.
I want to condition young girls to look past the outward appearances of others, and I want them to know that their own looks don’t matter as much as American media likes us to believe. Day after day, I see girls, my own peers, criticizing their bodies. I hear, “I need to lose a few pounds,” or, “My eyes are too close together!”. But beauty needs to be defined in our own, individual terms.
Different things make different people feel beautiful, so we, as a society, should encourage women to explore what makes them confident rather than what makes Taylor Swift feel confident. Celebrities like Taylor are everywhere, just like Bruce Jenner was in the 70s.
Progress towards female confidence and power has definitely been made since that time, but feminism is a constantly evolving concept.
It’s not something to be intimidated by, so I choose to take on the highest badge of honor: feminist.
For more information, check out these few websites and blogs that I have found to be helpful for those questioning feminism:
https://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com
Only a month late?This article is preaching my entire existence! I love this article and the author. FEMINISM ROCKS! #feminism #feelthebern