Why are many girls so quick to criticize––so eager to judge? When struck first, it seems almost instinctive for us to retaliate, as if we feel obligated to hit back. We are constantly on display with boxing gloves in hand, asking ourselves, “How much can a girl endure without resorting to some sort of defense mechanism? Where does the breaking point lie?” From the pressures of simply being a teenager in modern American society to the overwhelming burden of upholding the roles and responsibilities of a “young lady,” girls are constantly under duress. Whether they’re walking the halls of their high schools, of their colleges, or of their homes, these girls face numerous challenges––ones that, arguably, most teenage boys will never face during the entirety of their high school and collegiate careers (or their lives, for that matter). From unwavering insecurity to rapid emotional development, these girls are met with unbelievable obstacles.
But while there seems to be clear-cut guidelines for girls to follow, they still remain conflicted; these guidelines often contradict each other. School dress codes forbid them from showing skin, while male peers encourage skimpy skirts and spaghetti straps. They’re taught by their mentors and the media to stand up for what they believe in, while outspoken women are deemed “bossy” by their male peers. That same popular opinion also deems them pushy and overbearing. So when conflict arises, to whom are they able to turn? To whom do they turn? The answers vary. Their mothers? Their guidance counselors? Their teachers? Not quite.
It seems as if most girls find truth in novels concerning teenage life, or even in movies that contain high-school-related plotlines. And, unsurprisingly, these “young adult” books and petty films present a false caricature of high school, so that young girls seeking guidance are left with poor role models and with fictitious presumptions about their futures. They are fed the message that their physical beauty—their sexuality—can be exchanged for absolutely anything they want from their male peers. They’re coerced into believing that their humor, their intelligence, and their compassion are secondary to their popularity—that those “petty attributes” will falter in attaining true happiness and success.
They have grown up idolizing fictional characters—actresses who pretend to be relatable. These icons present themselves as typical high school students and convince their audiences of their false facades. And those same audience members, those same girls, are somehow convinced.
But why?
A few weeks ago, I rewatched Mean Girls, an iconic 2004 movie that distorts the realities of high school and collegiate life. The film centers on Cady Heron, a junior who moves to the United States from Africa. As the movie progresses, Cady attempts to navigate her social life while establishing herself as the top-tier student she’s always been. Along the way, she encounters multiple exclusive friend groups, from the jerks to the band geeks to the Plastics: your quintessential “mean girls.”
Though still considered a classic 2000s movie (and one that I can’t help but love), the movie reeks of overly complicated plots pertaining to sex and insecurity; it teaches young women that their bodies define them and that “dumbing” themselves down for simple attention of a male peer is acceptable. Mean Girls belittles the female mindset in a way that reaches for satire but ultimately fails to grasp it.
For example, the plot of the movie documents Cady’s attempt to “fit in” with the Plastics while also taking them down. Along the way, Cady herself shifts into the stereotypical nasty high school girl without even realizing it. Although she completely changes her personality in addition to her wardrobe, and her success in academics ultimately deteriorates, she seems much happier with her “mean girl” life than she did at the start of the movie. The rest of the film begs the audience to believe that popular Cady is far more miserable than unpopular Cady was. In reality, Mean Girls never gives the audience a reason to believe that Cady dislikes the person she’s become or the role she’s playing in her peers’ unhappiness.
Viewers are ultimately left with a bad taste in their mouths––and rightfully so. The film urges teenage girls to sacrifice everything for a boy, in this case, a boy who is also currently in another relationship––a high school relationship. It promotes sexuality as a means for establishing substantial relationships and friendships.
When movies like Mean Girls are screened and then popularized by mainstream media, teenagers instantly and unintentionally internalize the plot as truth, as reality. Their views of “normal” high school and collegiate life are warped, their visions clouded.
As a 19-year-old girl who has just started the first half of her freshman year in college, I can attest that Mean Girls does not teach you what you need to know in order to thrive in both high school and college. It does not accurately portray what life is actually like. And it will not prepare you for, quite honestly, one of the most stressful times of your life (albeit one of the most exciting times, as well). Though I’m not quite finished with my journey, I feel that I am well-equipped to detail what you should truly know about the high school and collegiate experiences and what you should disregard in films like Mean Girls.
- You are not defined by the attention you receive.
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During my time in high school, I have realized that most people gain popularity for things that do not matter. Your peers will want to know about the parties, the sex, the suspensions, and the humiliations. At the end of the day, those things don’t matter, and they surely will not matter in 10 years. People will talk. People will laugh. That’s just human nature. But your worth is neither degraded nor upgraded based on what somebody says or thinks about you. All that matters is that you are happy with yourself. All that matters is that you are happy.
- You have to be kind.
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It’s always difficult to put yourself in someone else’s shoes when you’re already so consumed by your own frustrations and anxieties. You may feel isolated in your journey to that diploma, whether high school or collegiate, and that may cloud your judgement sometimes. But you must remind yourself that your peers are struggling with something; they’re also treading the rough waters, and they too can barely keep afloat. You must be able to take a few steps back and acknowledge that the validity your experience is not worth more than someone else’s. So no matter whom you choose to associate yourself with, no matter whom you pass in the hallways or sit by in class, offer up a smile. You can’t even begin to understand how that simple gesture can brighten someone’s day until you try.
- You have to be self-forgiving.
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If you’re at all like me, you have taken on many academically rigorous classes, many time-consuming extracurricular activities, and perhaps even a job. If you’re like me, you’ve certainly spread yourself too thin. You feel as if all of these involvements will pay off in the end—as if it’s too late to drop any of your commitments. You know you’re overbooked, but can’t help but feel that you’d be disappointing someone (or even yourself) if you were to remove something stressful from your life. Please know that you can always drop a class, a club, an extracurricular. You can always make more time for yourself. But if you are uncomfortable doing so, cut yourself some slack. Nobody expects you to keep it together all the time. It’s perfectly okay to be emotional, to be frustrated, to be anxious. You have to allow yourself to make mistakes. And you have to be able to learn and move on.
- You are not alone.
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So don’t be afraid to reach out, whether that’s to your peers, to your parents, or even to your teachers. Though many people don’t want to talk about their struggles or their failures, most of the time they have experienced something similar to whatever you’re going through right now. It may not be as severe—or it may be more severe—but no matter the degree, there are people who have grappled with those same issues and have pushed through. There are people who have made it to the light at the end of the tunnel. All you have to do is keep going.
College may seem overwhelming at times. It will seem absolutely frustrating and nearly impossible to navigate. But you have to look at your life realistically and not through the lens of a fictitious movie character. You have to be able to put in the work, while also giving yourself some room to breathe and some time to relax. Maybe even watch some Mean Girls while you’re at it—but be sure not to lose yourself in it.