We’re just girls, let us live

In society, girls are constantly criticized for simply living. No matter what they wear, how much makeup they put on, or their body type, people always try to find a problem with it. Someone will always have something to say. No matter what girls do, it is never enough; somehow, everything is viewed negatively.
Living in this world as a girl is frightening because you never know what people are capable of. Girls walk outside cautiously, looking around to see if there are any creeps staring or following them. Even when going for a walk, girls get catcalled despite being underage or not interested in general. This makes them extremely uncomfortable.
Everyone should be able to go out carefree and not worry about their safety and what other people can do to them. It’s sad that girls have to be aware of these kinds of things but unfortunately, it’s the world that we live in.
When going out in a skirt or a tank top, people say that girls are trying to be “suggestive” or “slutty.” It’s confusing how showing too much skin is disgusting and asking for the attention of boys, but if a girl wears baggy clothes, she’s insecure.
When a girl starts feeling confident and decides to wear makeup, people start tearing them down. Commenting on how much makeup they are wearing or telling them they are asking for too much attention. At the same time, girls may not feel as confident in themselves when they don’t wear makeup, so the comments people make tear them down even more.
In life, everyone has their own internal struggles. Both men and women have to go through their own problems and none should ever be invalidated, but when you look at what both men and women have to deal with in society, there is a clear divide.
A student at Saint Peter’s Prep, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that as a man, he notices the difference of struggles between men and women in society.
“There are societal standards that girls face that boys aren’t pressured to conform to,”
said Anonymous. “This isn’t to disregard the fact that boys don’t face problems, but there has been a precedent set by societal history in which girls often face more hardships than boys.”
Due to the patriarchy, there are still many stereotypes that both men and women are held to. Men have always been seen as superior and the provider. While women are seen as caretakers who should stay at home and do chores and not go to work.
Maylene Ruiz, a junior at County Prep High School, says the traditional stereotypes are still going on in her own home.
“There were numerous occasions where I would be asked to do multiple chores a day, help cook, clean, wash the dishes, etc. Sometimes my brother is asked to help me, but he rarely ever does,” Ruiz explained. “When he does, it’s never fully done, and the blame always ends up on me.”
As a society, we should all learn to appreciate and respect women. Without a woman, we would not be able to have all these people in this world, especially the men, and people fail to realize that.
Women do so much that it is terrible that people often overlook it. Instead of a little praise people continue to treat many women like objects.
My hope is that as the world continues to evolve, people treat girls the way they deserve and recognize that they are worth more than a pretty face.