Young Girls and Sexism

by Madalynn Lloyd-Norstog: Executive Editor

It is no secret that many people are treated based solely on their physical appearance. This is especially true in regards to gender, as all children are raised and treated differently based entirely on their genitalia. A child’s gender not only dictates the treatment they receive from their caretakers, but also from society as a whole. There is only so much that laws implemented to enforce equal rights can do to influence people’s biases. The most prevalent example of this clear divide is present in the way that society views young girls and their interests.

Femininity in general is poorly regarded, but this has a massive impact on the development of younger girls. The stereotypical interests of young girls, such as make up, dresses, pink toys, Barbie dolls, and other such things are generally looked down upon, especially by their male counterparts. Young boys are taught to shun and mock anything associated with femininity and prize anything related to traditionally masculine interests. This stigma, however, applies to young girls just as much as it does to boys. Young girls are taught to be ashamed for liking things that are traditionally feminine and are praised for pursuing interests generally associated with masculinity.

This reinforces the idea that there is a strict division between femininity and masculinity, with femininity being considered inferior. However, this prejudice extends far beyond childhood, as many traditionally feminine hobbies are also generally shamed and looked down upon. Romance novels are a significant example of this, with many women being mocked and ridiculed for consuming such media and men even more so for even taking a passing interest in something so heavily associated with femininity. 

This problem is most notably in adolescent girls who are just reaching puberty and are exploring not only their interests, but themselves as well. There is significant ridicule in the media and other goods that are generally consumed by adolescent girls, such as shows and books that center around romance and drama, boy bands, art, and so on. It can be incredibly damaging for young girls to be shamed for exploring their interests, which inherently leads to a lot of repression and lack of growth. It is important for adolescents at this age to be able to explore things that might be seen as embarrassing or “cringe” by others or themselves so that they can grow and develop. 

Cringe culture in general is incredibly harmful, as it stigmatizes others, primarily adolescents on the internet, for being excited and passionate about their interests. Sure it may be embarrassing to others, but only because those that mock the youth of today were similarly shamed when they were younger, and deflect that on to the vulnerable youth. It is important to allow children to grow into themselves without the deep-seeded guilt and shame that is present in many adults of today for simply exploring their interests when they were younger.