I’ve been reading a lot of articles online lately about why being a girl sucks. And unfortunately a lot of them are true. http://www.buzzfeed.com/laraparker/things-no-one-tells-you-about-being-a-woman?bffb#byll90.
I’ve even written about it myself to purge my own conflicted feelings about the dark side of womanhood.
https://thethingsiyell.wordpress.com/2014/07/02/girls-girl-or-mean-girl/
https://thethingsiyell.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/the-friend-zone-isnt-a-bad-place-to-be/
But I’m over it. I’m tired of being reminded how I’m scared walking through dark parking lots or roadways, that I dress differently in certain situations to avoid negative attention, that other women can sometimes be my worst enemies instead of allies, that I earn less than my male co-workers for doing the same job. If I have a daughter one day, I want to be able to tell her that though there are many things about being a woman that are honestly going to suck, there are tons of things that make it awesome too. Here are four things I’ll tell my daughter about being a woman that I love, if I ever get around to having kids…
1. Sisterhood – It can take time to find a group of true, loyal besties, but once you do, the bond you will share is something that’s indefinable. Women relate to each other in a way that’s completely different from the way men do. Cherish your friendships, even when you get older and get busy with jobs and romantic relationships, always carve out time for them, even if it’s just a few minutes. Sometimes a good long laugh (or cry) with a best friend is just what you’ll need to get through a difficult day. If you can find a gaggle of awesome ladies to call BFF, great, but one or two loyal and honest ones is really all you need.
2. Versatility – Who can be a a chef, a teacher, healer, caregiver, and advice-giver all at the same time after spending 8+ hours a day being awesome at our jobs? A woman. Our capacity for multitasking is unmatched by our male counterparts. We wear many hats and can wear them all well. Don’t limit yourself.
3. Inspiration – As a girl you’ll never have to look far to feel inspired. The generations that came before yours, our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, had to work so much harder than we do now to get half as much, many fighting discrimination, gender and racial, at the same time. They kicked down the doors that we so casually stroll through now. We can always look to them for strength.
4. Intuition – Women notice things, small details, that our male counterparts just don’t. We think differently. See the world differently. Part of the reason why we can be such great friends to each other. I can take one look at a close friend and tell that something is wrong, even if she has on a mask of happiness. I’ve never been wrong. She’s the same with me. Always listen to your gut. There’s been so many times when I’ve known something was off, whether it was in a relationship, a job opportunity, a friendship, and I ignored it, to my own detriment. Trust your instincts. You’ll avoid years of unhappiness.
So, as-yet-unborn, to-exist-one-day (maybe) daughter, don’t fret, there are many beautiful moments that come with girlhood and womanhood, and I’ll be at your side, guiding you through the not-so-pleasant ones. We’ll get through it together until you’re ready to stand alone.
What do you love about being a girl?
Jennifer Terry 