Finding community, belonging in popular memories of girlhood
Freshman Danya Levya remembers the fun she and her older sister used to have growing up together. Whenever they would come home from a day of clothes shopping, they would put on “fashion shows” to model their outfits for one another. It’s a tradition they’ve carried on to this day – they go over their shopping hauls and compliment each other on their makeup.
“Girlhood to me is what was around me growing up – the toys I played with the friends I hung out with, the clothes I wore and how I acted,” Levya said. “My girlhood is made up of princesses, action movies, baseball and softball, nail polish.”
It’s those special, shared memories that Levya and other women carry with them throughout their lives and hold close to their hearts. And for some women, the summer blockbuster film Barbie helped to put those memories in a new light.
Barbie sparked conversations worldwide about female empowerment and identity. The movie reminded some women of simpler times in their lives, when there were fewer expectations on who or what they “should” be, and fewer demands on what they “should” do. The movie also encouraged women to support each other, and to stop being so self-critical.
“I didn’t care about judgment and was free to scream as loud as I wanted to,” said senior sociology student Ashley Noreen Mckenzie. “The stage before puberty and worrying about what clothes to wear or about boys … the carefree-era of life.”
But for some women, part of growing up means putting aside those things that were once enjoyed in girlhood. However, renewed focus on female identities is allowing some women to revisit the experiences and activities that brought them joy as young girls. These women are also pushing back against expectations of what people think they “should” or “shouldn’t” do now.
Take the “girl dinner” and “girl math” trend on social media. These concepts not only poke fun at stereotypes about girlhood and womanhood, but also reject them.
These conversations and trends about girlhood and womanhood are not only fostering community, but helping some women and girls with different backgrounds and experiences to connect on multiple levels.
Popular culture often positions women against each other, forcing upon them the idea that they are in direct competition – for romance, for money, for status. But it’s important to remember the value of shared experiences and shared humanity – that strength is not only found within, but through meaningful connections with others.In the words of Brie Larson’s character in the superhero movie The Marvels, “You can stand tall without standing alone.”
