7 Culturess writers on the word ‘girl’

(Image courtesy Rachel Leishman)

5. Rachel Leishman

Being called a girl isn’t the worst thing in the world but it also isn’t great. Context is really key. For me, I tend to call my friends “girl” and use it as a slang term. I don’t mean for it to be derogatory or anything and it is more of a term of endearment than anything else.

Now, I have had men use the world “girl” as an insult towards me. One told me that I was smart for a girl and others use it to make me feel badly about myself. But I don’t think the word girl in regards to a grown woman is a bad thing.

Like any word, if the intention behind it is negative then the word itself becomes such. I could say “you” and it could be a negative thing depending on the context of the situation. So I don’t necessarily see being called “girl” as something bad.

But I get why other girls do. It’s a hard thing to swallow because we don’t typically call men “boys,” unless you’re me where I look at my favorite actors and say “that boy need to stop” to men who are older than me.

At the end of the day, though, it isn’t about the word itself but rather how we use it. If someone calls us “girl” and means it to be an insult then yes, it sucks. But sometimes, it can show strength. Because after all, girls can do anything and everything we put our minds to.