What it truly means to be a girl

(If you are reading this out loud, please scream every single word with a burning passion.)

This is not a rant; it is the raw, unfiltered emotions of a teenage girl who would unironically compare girlhood to trying to ride a unicycle through a hurricane.

Experiencing the very essence of girlhood requires the ability to very delicately balance between being the very best one can be and conforming to societal norms – and as a girl, this often translates to forfeiting opportunities for the sake of “acting like a lady” (whatever that means!). There is a constant awareness of an unspoken guidebook that steeps into every facet of life. It dictates how girls should express joy, anger, or even disappointment. It tells girls what colours are acceptable, what hobbies are appropriate, and how our dreams should align with societal expectations.

Girlhood is a constant struggle against the “shoulds” and the “shouldn’ts” that seek to define, confine, and, more often than not, undermine.

It is a push and pull, a tug-of-war between authenticity and societal expectations that leaves very little room for individuality – imposing a mold that is meant to be constricting rather than liberating.

Vague notions of femininity (i.e. “don’t be too assertive”, “don’t be too outspoken”, “smile more”, “don’t be too opinionated”) often act as society’s justification to toning down female aspirations and hushing female voices. How can girls be expected to constantly stay upright while adhering to a set of perplexing rules?

Being a girl should not and will not be confined by arbitrary rules. Refusing to conform to outdated and limiting expectations should not be seen as “disruptive”. After all, why should being a girl be defined by a narrative that does not reflect the diverse and unapologetic essence of girlhood?