By: Courtney Suber
It’s not an uncommon misconception within today’s society that teenage girls are one dimensional. We’re often told we must act a specific way and fit into rigid boxes that can be ticked off one by one. And thus the emergence of “pick-me’s” or “girls who aren’t like other girls” is evident in combat to the misogynoir of society. Almost all girls feel as if one way or another they must stand out. But what if I told you… I tick every box? And am not a bit ashamed of it? I constantly say “like” and “oh my god,” I love shopping, I like doing my makeup and possibly any other girly thing you could imagine. And there’s nothing wrong nothing with that!
In a perfect world we could carefully reconstruct and rebuild our hatred and nihilism towards femineity, but unfortunately we’re in 21st century America, where apps like TikTok live to tear teenage girls apart. And to that, I say, YOLO. You’re only a teenage girl once. The chance to be shamelessly boy crazy, in love with movies like Twilight, and stereotypically feminine only comes once. Life is too short to be controlled by the standards of others. Put the dress on, paint your nails, be wooed by colors like pink. Femineity is an integral part of humanity, and no matter the form, gender, shape, size, et cetera of whoever is expressing it, the chance and opportunity to embrace such is one of a kind.
Courtney P. Suber
North Springs Charter High School c/o 2022
