What does it mean to be a girl?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A GIRL?

Does it mean curves

And dips

And swells

Of body parts that we CAN’T CONTROL

But are judged for regardless?

Does it mean to hide

And tuck

And pour

Ourselves into clothing

That is deemed acceptable by society?

Does it mean wax

And shave

And change our bodies 

To suit or fit into

A FANTASY that we did not consent to?

Maybe.

And then again

Maybe NOT.

Does it mean catcalls

And harassment

And horror stories

To the point where

We self-impose curfews for SAFETY?

Does it mean cooking

And cleaning

And OBEYING

Phantom partners that we are yet to meet

But doomed to serve for eternity?

Does it mean being taught

At an age younger than double digits

That we are weaker

 Worth less

Than the men around us?

MAYBE.

And then again

Maybe not.

What if

Being a girl means

Having to PROVE

In every moment of existence

That you deserve

To be where you are.

What if 

Being a girl means

That you are taught

By the right people

How to fight for your needs

Your words

Your BODY

Even when you are too young to truly 

Understand

The NECESSITY to fight for everything.

Being a girl could mean all of these things

And then again

None.

But if someone asked 

What 

Being a girl meant TO ME

I think…

It could mean 

APPRECIATING the struggle to find clothes in your size

And determining your style 

Because of that.

It could mean

Learning that you will be paid less

For the same work that a man does

And growing to give thanks for the small doses of pleasure 

That SUCCEEDING gives you.

It could mean

Discovering that you want to stand up

For every other girl

And every other injustice that they have had to face

Simply because of something that they could not control

Such as GENDER.

It could mean

Recognising that all walks of life

Encounter the same INEQUITY

That girls face every single day

And are silent about it

In the same way

That girls are.

BUT.

Being a girl

Does not mean

That you should have any reason

To invalidate

Or ridicule

Or despise

Another human being

For their life

And for the things that are OUT OF THEIR CONTROL.

Race

Sexuality

Religion

Trauma

Family

Birthplace

Can all effect someone’s life

The same way

Gender does

For girls.

That is why

I believe

That all girls

Should know

That they are HUMAN too.

And being human can mean

Being given the POWER

The intelligence

The beauty

The strength

The empathy

To CHANGE THE WORLD

In any way that you could possibly want to.

Evie Taylor

Year 10