written By: monique james
Trends come and go on social media, with users riding one viral wave until it fades. Some trends create a lighthearted connection, while others spark controversial debates.
The statement “I’m just a girl” has emerged on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, leaving users questioning its true meaning and impact.
University of Maryland students shared how they feel about the statement when it’s said among women, versus when it’s said by men.
“I think it means, don’t go too hard on me, give me some grace, I’m still learning, I’m still growing,” said junior marketing major Faye Tennis.
While Tennis sees the phrase as an easygoing, lighthearted comment, junior journalism major Emma Levine views it as an excuse.
“When people are serious about it, it’s an excuse for not taking responsibility for what they’re doing,” Levine said.
Despite their different perspectives, both students agreed that when the phrase comes from a man, it usually carries poor intentions.
“When a man says it, it’s sexist and misogynistic, and that’s not how it was intended to be used,” Tennis said. “They use it like ‘you’re just a girl, you can’t do anything of substance.’”
Furthermore, Tennis explained that she believes certain things that come from girls should only be kept between girls.
Levine agreed that men often co-opt trends created by women. She sees men create their own version of trends that come from women, adapting it and making it their own. Sometimes that adaptation turns out to be negative and stray away from the original meaning.
The statement “I’m just a girl” has found its way into a community. Whether it is meant in a negative or positive way, it has started a movement of what girlhood really is or what it might be. As the phrase continues to spark conversation between users, the question of its true intention still remains.