Gender Equality
Introduction
Girlhood is often framed in a way that diminishes the complexity and depth of women’s experiences. Famous singer Billie Eilish shared hours of stories about sex, mental health, art, and many other decidedly adult matters. To summarize this talk, she said, “I’m just a girl,” positioning herself as a girl or a child.
The social media use of the branding of “girl” functions similarly. The term “girl” often becomes a reason for mistakes and failures, as well as a casual excuse when things go wrong.
Using girlhood, as opposed to womanhood, linguistically binds online identity and community-building to a childlike understanding of self. Even when calling something “girl-like” might not seem to treat women as children directly, the choice of words can still feel off. Referring to adult women as “girl-like” ties their identities to a childish view of themselves. This can be unsettling because we know these women are adults, with real lives and experiences, not girls. They are adults, with adult bodies and lives and experiences.
I. The Impact of Media
The movie Barbie of 2024 premiered internationally. The film tells us how womanhood doesn’t have to revolve around constant success or growth. It allows us to enjoy and laugh at the silly moments in our lives. However, the film does not translate into real-world activism or critical reflection on women’s issues.
While a well-written scene, something that sticks out is how nothing new is said. Gerwig never touches on what it’s like to be a woman of color, a queer or transgender woman, or anything that could’ve made the movie a lot more impactful in its ability to address issues that don’t often have mainstream representation in media and pop culture.
Feminism should ask women to consider their power, their intellectual capacities, and their political responsibilities. Today’s girlhood feminism may be popular on social media, but it often lacks depth and fails to translate into meaningful political or social change. Girlhood feminism often leads to conversations that are inactive and non-disruptive, lacking the political action that was once central to feminist movements.
While platforms like TikTok and Instagram are full of relatable content about being a woman, they often don’t encourage deep thinking. Instead, they focus on creating content for fun and entertainment, which leads to humor without really advancing important discussions about feminism. This style of feminism lets people enjoy being silly and young but usually skips over serious topics like gender identity and societal challenges. It seems to produce no political, social, or intellectual output at all.
II. The Commodification of Self
We are living through perhaps the most egregious and comprehensive assault on reproductive freedom this country has seen.
Girls today are constantly marketing themselves online—whether through Instagram or dating apps—turning their identities into products. This is what we can call “the commodification of the self.”
A big part of girls’ mental health problems today stems from making themselves into products all the time and selling themselves. Whether that’s marketing personal lives on Instagram, advertising on dating apps, building personal brands, or labeling themselves as “Autumn girls,” it’s constant and a huge part of girls’ lives.
I noticed something striking at a wedding two days ago. My cousin’s 10-year-old niece was completely absorbed in taking pictures. She had layers of makeup on her face and was wearing an expensive dress, trying hard to look “modern.” It made me think about how young girls today are influenced by social media and the pressure they feel to present themselves in a certain way.
It’s not her fault; she has been exposed to social media at such an early age that she feels forced to become a product. Instead of enjoying genuine experiences with friends, she is pressured to curate her life for likes.
Interestingly, I noticed something heartwarming while researching this topic: Taylor Swift’s concert film. Groups of pre-teen girls were present together without their phones, dancing and sharing pure joy. This innocent experience starkly contrasts with how many girls today navigate social media’s whirlwind.
III. Reclaiming “Girlhood”
For many women, growing up involves a transformation from subject to object.
The way Gen-Z is reclaiming the term “girl” challenges the old-fashioned idea that being called a girl or girly is a bad thing. In the past, this term was often used by men to make women seem less intelligent or capable, pushing them into a childish stereotype. However, younger millennials and Gen-Z are flipping this script.
Although there is very little population that sees “girliness” as something fun and stylish—an aesthetic to embrace and be proud of, without worrying about what society thinks. This shift shows how attitudes toward femininity are changing, allowing young women to celebrate their identities on their own terms.
IV. GIRLboss
Even older terms like “Girlboss” come with a bit of privilege. The Girlboss idea usually describes a wealthy, college-educated woman who has made her way up the corporate ladder in high heels and a stylish blazer. While she might seem relatable because she’s part of hustle culture, her lifestyle is often out of reach for most middle and lower-class women.
There’s really no need to use the term “Girlboss” at all. We never say “male boss,” so labeling it as “Girlboss” just highlights inequality. It suggests that being a woman in a leadership role is something special or different, which shouldn’t be the case. Women should be seen as equals without needing a separate label to define their success.
V. Conclusion
Claire Player’s quote, “It’s just if being a woman sucks and we don’t want to be a woman, there’s this emptiness to womanhood,” captures a deep frustration many women feel.
We get to be young, beautiful, aesthetic, non-disruptive, and cool—all while calling it feminism. But as we enjoy the comfort of not being called to action, I wonder if we are missing out on important conversations. Are we robbing ourselves of the chance to talk like grown-ups, get to work, and build a better future?
It’s crucial that we recognize the need for meaningful dialogue and action in our pursuit of equality, rather than simply settling for a superficial understanding of feminism and girlhood.
