Girly Girl

People+have+all+sorts+of+different+styles+and+should+feel+free+to+express+them+however+they+want.

Melina Bowser

People have all sorts of different styles and should feel free to express them however they want.

High heels, makeup, tight shirts, short skirts, the color pink. Girls, and people, in general, are always told when, where, and how much of them to wear. Whether we’re not wearing them enough or too much, when it comes to being “girly”, there’s always something we’re doing wrong.

As a little girl, I remember turning on the t.v. to see girls dressed in all pink, wearing nice clothes, and with their hair all done. When one of them would first appear, I would think, “Oh, she looks pretty”, only for her to be portrayed as either the mean girl or the dumb friend.

What do you think this taught me?

74 percent of girls say they are under pressure to please everyone (Girls Inc, The Supergirl Dilemma).

— Heart of Leadership

The once positive thoughts I had were replaced with “Oh, she must be the bully”.

It was engraved in my mind that if you’re “girly”, you’re shallow, self-absorbed, annoying and/or empty-headed. You can’t play sports, and it’d be against the laws of nature if you were smart. To put it bluntly, you’re a good-for-nothing: someone you shouldn’t want to be.

As I got older, I learned that if you wear tighter, shorter, more feminine clothes, along with makeup, you’re “trashy”. Desperate for attention, you’d even wear that to impress anyone that’d give you a second look. You’re the type of person that would flirt with someone else’s significant other and doesn’t have a decent personality.

While we might not even realize it, we buy-into this mindset by making comments like, “Look at what she’s wearing!” or “She’s wearing that? Really?” Hearing them all the time at school, you’ve probably done it too.

At the same time, if you don’t wear as much revealing clothing or “girly” clothes in general, you’re not feminine enough. Too boring and boyish, you’re never going to attract anyone dressing the way you do.

98 percent of girls feel there is an immense pressure from external sources to look a certain way (National Report on Self Esteem).

— Heart of Leadership

The same thing applies to wearing makeup. Don’t go overboard, because you’re trying too hard. Don’t get it wrong though, you still have to put some on to be attractive.

We have all thrown ridiculous standards at one another, expecting everyone to adhere to them. We, ourselves, feel the urge to reach them in order to show the people around us that we are good enough.

No matter what, everyone’s going to have something to say about the way you present yourself, no matter who/what gender you are. If you allow their negativity to change how you express yourself, you’ll never develop confidence, since you’ll feel like you’re living the life of a person other than yourself.

Don’t end up regretting a certain portion of your life because you’re afraid of all the labels and stereotypes being yourself might come with. If you like short skirts and high heels: great. If you like plaid shirts and cargo shorts: great. If you like anything in between or beyond that: also great. Don’t worry about it. You do you. If people judge you for it, so be it, because you’re thriving regardless.