Girls Do Matter

When my oldest sister came home from college with a shirt that said "feminist" across the front, I had visions of her gaining 50 pounds, refusing to shave her legs, chopping her hair off, and snarling at every man that passed by. I said, "Gervais, you’re not one of those." Now I want to be one of those: an empowered girl (without the 50 pound gain).

Gervais opened a door for me, and now I look at a woman’s role in society from a new direction. Before my eyes were shut tight; now they are open with new experiences and ideas flooding in. I’m glad that I’m here to encourage other girls to realize their important role in society as well as to shed light on the discrepancies that are so blatantly obvious.

The discrepancies that I have noticed are in a mini-society that girls are active in, high school. Each day, whether I’m attending my history class, eating lunch, or at a basketball game, I can see an apparent and frustrating incongruity that exists between the guys and the girls.

I’m not talking about the traditional competition of "boys vs. girls," but rather an unfair difference in expectations for each sex. Let’s go back to high school. Women, close your eyes and travel back, however far it may be. And for the girls, I ask you to go back to school tomorrow and open your eyes in class, hopefully noticing some of the following situations.

It’s first period, and most of my classmates are rubbing their eyes and still half asleep when my teacher begins her lecture that mentions architectural groin vaults and flying buttresses. A boy slouching in the back row makes a crude joke that includes both "butts" and "groins." My teacher, without hesitation, rolls her eyes and shakes her head while whispering "oh those boys..." My girlfriends and I look at each other in disbelief, knowing that if we had said something of that nature, we would have gotten a scolding for being so impolite, crass, or unfeminine.

After an exhausting three hours of class time, the lunch bell rings and we all flock to the main lawn to hang out. A senior guy struts up to a girl in my grade, and they strike up a flirty conversation. I can’t help but notice how this girl loses her usual authoritative composure and turns very passive, batting her eyes and looking away, as if her controlling, intelligent self would threaten the captain of the football team, and (gasp!) lead to "role-switching." Is it considered "uncool" for a girl to be so self-assured and not tend to be so submissive?

Back in class, who raises their hand the most? I’ve noticed that girls are asking the questions while guys are making statements. Rarely if a guy is unsure will he ask for clarification. It is important that we keep asking questions, not only to our teachers, but also to the world. Such as… Why are the boys’ basketball games scheduled after the girls? Why aren’t the guys bouncing on the sidelines cheering on the girls?

Girls need a support team as well. GirlsMatter can serve as this support system- except instead of locker room pep rallies there will be after school meetings. Girls need to find their own voices and use them. I challenge every girl to accomplish this by speaking up in her next class, voicing her opinion even if it goes against the grain, and, most importantly, being proud of who you are, a girl. With this foundation, we will be better citizens and better people.