Why I Don’t Like “Girl Power”

Before people come screaming for my head I would like to first indulge in some light word theory. I would first like to make the claim that words mean what people think they mean. You see, the reason we have words is that they represent things in the world. The only difference between the words ‘baseball’, ‘thunder’, and ‘ideology’ is the meaning that we assign them. There are a lot of people who like to say, “These words don’t mean what you think they mean” but words mean what people think they mean. The only sure reality is the one that most people agree on, and I don’t like the words “girl power”. 

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What is Girl Power? Well, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, it’s “The idea that women and girls should be confident, make decisions, and achieve things independently of men.” That sounds all good, right? 

Girl Power really is a movement made popular about 30 – 40 years ago by celebrities proclaiming their unwavering support for other women. ‘I can do anything because I have two X chromosomes!’ ‘Because I wear a t-shirt saying -Girl Power-, Nothing can stop me!’

Girl Power is about friendship and you can tackle anything by yourself. So besides being a little vilifying of men, what’s the problem with Girl Power?

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To me, girl power has always had a flippant trendy vibe. It’s something you say because you want to feel cool. You want to look progressive. You want to seem strong. 

To me, girl power is a simplified version of what actually is important – which is equality. Equality means a world where women aren’t defined by their appearances (or anyone for that matter). It means working towards a world where rape and violence don’t happen against women in spades more than men. 

You don’t have to be oppressed to care that other people are oppressed. To be a middle-class white woman in America, it seems irresponsible of me to claim that I’m oppressed. You don’t have to hate men to know that people (both men and women) abuse young girls. 

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Why do you care that girls and women all over the world have anywhere from fewer rights than men to fewer than a stray animal? Because you are human.

If you are human, equality matters. No one should believe that one gender of a person should be raised in power above another. And to me, that’s what Girl Power is trying to do. 

Who runs the world? GIRLS.

Actually, mostly men do. No matter how you shout that lyric or scream your independence, it doesn’t change that fact. Women need men in order to make any real change in gender equality. From politics to the mainstream, men, women, and children are needed to make any sort of actual difference. 

And needing men makes you smart, not weak. 

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Jennifer Wright wrote an article for Harper’s Bazaar called “Feminism Doesn’t Mean Liking Every Stupid Woman You Meet”. In that, she talks about this population of feminists who believe you have to lift other women up, no matter what. In that, she cites Tomi Lahren, a political commentator, “The true intention of feminism will be restored when women stop bringing each other down out of jealousy, pettiness, and self-righteous BS.” 

Lahren’s version of feminism is irresponsible and wrong. Wright says, “Feminism isn’t a hot air balloon designed to lift already privileged ladies up to new joyful heights. Feminism is a life raft. Unlike Girl Power, feminism is scary, because it demands change, and does not just entail sexily singing that women are terrific.” 

So yes, equality matters. People’s lives depend on it. Girl Power just doesn’t. If you love and respect humans, then be aware and take action. Catchy slogans don’t help anybody.

• feminism
• girl power
• inequality