If you've met me, chances are you think I'm pretty girly. I like wearing dresses, I enjoy make-up, I giggle a lot, I like small dogs, I have a thing for designer handbags, I always put on perfume before I leave the apartment, and I dream of being a housewife one day. I don't try to pretend I'm not girly. But one day my friends and I were going through the traits that each one of us has that in a sense, "define" us. They said mine was girly and I was almost offended! Why? I have no idea. I AM girly. That's not even something I'm unaware of. It's not like they called me selfish or something bad, but it felt like an insult to be defined as girly. I started to realize how much I am almost embarrassed of my girly traits.
I want a dog SO badly, but for a while, I hated telling people I wanted a dog because I like small dogs! I think my heart is set on a Beagle at this point, but I would be lying if I said I don't like Yorkie's or Maltese puppies. Every time someone says they want a dog, someone in the group feels the need to say "ugh, hopefully not one of those little dogs…" It never seems to fail.
I remember hearing a debate on the radio one morning about how it's a double standard that women can have manly traits and it is okay, and even attractive, but men aren't able to have womanly traits without being mocked. But I would actually argue that anyone gets mocked if they have girly traits, including girls! Think about it, are there any girly traits that are widely valued in society? There aren't many. I don't like to play up my girly traits because then I might be considered dumb or weak. I honestly don't think I'm either. I'm not saying there aren't double standards in our society… but most always they favor men.
When I was looking for pictures about being girly I found that Zooey Deschanel and I have this opinion in common. "I think you can still be girlie and maintain your power. The fact that you associate being girlie with being non-threatening, that is I mean, I can't think of more blatant example of playing into exactly the thing that we're trying to fight against. I can't be girlie? Why do I need to be defined aesthetically by someone else's perceptions of what makes me seem like someone who should be taken seriously? I'm going to wear whatever I want to wear, because I'm expressing myself, and I deserve that right. And I like the way that looks." Well said Zooey! I couldn't have said it better myself. Being girly is an expression of the the things you like. I shouldn't feel like I have to be a Tomboy or only have boy interests in order to be considered strong and attractive. I love who I am, and that includes my girly tendencies!
Like this:
Be the first to like this post.
Tags: double standard, giggle, girlie, girly, glitter, judgmental, masculine, pink, puppies, tomboy, Zooey Deschanel
