What Does Girl Power Really Mean, & Are We Doing It Right

Girl power, GRL PWR, Feminist, Girl boss ... Do these words hold any value or have they just become a trendy status to slap on a t-shirt for brands to profit. Not that you would swing a cat, but if you could swing a plush cat .. that's better right a stuffed cat you would hit one of these buzz words scrolled across somewhere or someone. Do I like them, well yes and no. I want to believe they have a real meaning, but as time goes on I'm not sure anymore.

I mean what does girl power even mean anymore, I still have fresh memories, of being a teenager back in the 90s and arguing with friends who was what Spice Girl. I was Geri naturally -Looking back now, I realise this meant being a loud mouth, utterly bossy and entitled, but I loved her seemly unapologetic vibes. Girl power then was more to do with dressing how you want, but acting like a lad. It was all a little confusing and the word feminist seemed to be an outdated term, that the kick ass girls drinking pints didn't relate too. While I thought it was cool that girls weren't pretending not to fart or burp, it was still making us act in a certain way to be taken seriously and have our voices heard. It just reduced everything down to a joke. My questions now  are we really empowering each other anymore now, or is feminism still completely misunderstood. Is it really helping, or has the movement been overshadowed by peoples personal agenda of what they want it to mean. 

Yes I have GRL PWL jeans no I'm not sorry.

I'm a thirty five year old women, a mother of two young boys and a carer for my mother who has bipolar.  While my beliefs have stayed solid, these being that you should not have to tick off societies must dos and must haves they have also grown and I've learnt more. This is another factor, depending on what stage of life your at these terms can have different meanings. A young women maybe struggling with reporting sexual harassment at work, while an older women may be struggling to get work. It's important not to compare someones struggle, so often I've seen a chat become a competition who has it the worst.  We need to come together to find ways to help each other, to listen to each other, to promote each other, to invest time into each other. If they have a business promote it, if you need work pay them. All the while doing our best to bridge the gender pay gap, fight for our rights to our bodies,  speak out about harassment and abuse and try and live our best lives.  

While things have changed and there is more openness about everything. Growing up with a hippy mum, I had a health understanding of my body. It throw me off when body hair, and everything else about mine and others bodies were seen as unnatural by girls my age as a teen. Now things are more fluid, people even dye their armpit hair, if you want to remove it no one cares each to their own. Now vs the 90s I'm glad to be here now, as while a lot feel the need to filter and pretend they are hitting Girl boss status. There is real change and this gives me hope.

Plus size women are finally being acknowledge, seeing these gorgeous women share their stories of being bullied and now burning beauty standards to the ground. Why shouldn't you wear what you like, be proud of your body whatever your size after years of being brainwashed that we have to fit the mold. 

Women of colour are leading the way, by supporting each other as well as others to be  embrace everything we are (TBH they always have, it's only now people have finally noticed *face palm). Seeing women embrace natural hair, rock traditional dress and take back their rights that have been stolen from them for far too long. They are starting hashtags, movements and trends that are changing the game using social media to challenge a white wash culture. Show casing their work, talking about struggles they have and still face and getting others to embrace their bodies, skin colour and talk more about what they want and what needs to stop.  

To see women who aren't able bodied, talk about challenges they face is eye opening as it's so easy to over look the simplest of things. Example how someone moaning about pre chopped veg, failed to see the benefit beyond their own needs and was quite rightly told straight that not everyone has a choice. Addressing the way abled people view and treat them. Connecting and building a community, to support and talk with each other. Showing their lives, be it fashion, sex (not literally),  writing, drawing and much more that goes beyond what society says they should like/discuss/ be apart of. Also that some disabilities  are hidden, and that we need to talk more and listen more, not tell them how they should feel. Fight for change where needed, and address how we can and are ablest sometimes and talk more about how we can adapt more.   

Transgender women and non binary have been fighting for all our rights for as long as I can remember. They are beautiful, and the world is waking up to this. They are more then just pretty faces on a catwalk or in a magazine, they are real women, real people with feelings that should be respected.  They are fighting for peoples lives, and getting others to listen and understand more about their journey of identity. They are helping generations of kids, be less afraid to own who they are. They are helping older generations, to talk more about their past, their struggles and how to cope with the journey. 

Seeing women talk about mental health has been unbelievable for me, for years growing up I didn't even know what BDD really was because there was no Internet, and no support because it was seen as weak or not real.  Women didn't talk about it, no one did. Now people from all over share their stories, their struggles. How they manage their illness, how they have battled it. Women are coming forward to talk more about abuse, whatever form it may take. Standing up against rape, domestic violence and mental abuse. We are all pushing for girl power, the power to exist without apology. 

That openness, has sadly also encouraged keyboard warriors to think they can say whatever they like. Ripping each other down on a daily basics. The word feminist was something I would have slapped all over myself, but it's being bent out of shape. Yes I'm saying it #sorrynotsorry  ... some white, middle class, abled feminism claiming that 'oh I'm a feminist but' ... which leads to awful, unacceptable comments about the trans community, women of colour, anyone who's not straight and other completely anti-feminist statements. All the while dressed like vagina's looking like dicks, telling people how they should live that would only benefit them and their agenda. 

There's no power in that, true power is not jumping around dressed as a pussy telling women they don't belong, that their voice doesn't matter. Owning your own path, doesn't mean pushing another down. You can get what you need, and fight for your fellow sister too. As the truth is her rights, are not going to damage yours and you lose nothing by supporting what's right, what's fair. Being truly happy and proud to see each other do well, shouting from  the rooftops for them. Addressing ignorant racism, sexism, and any anti bullshit that would see love between women as abnormal. That's really owning it, doing something that goes beyond fancy dress. 

I'm still waiting around for someone to make a Intersection feminist tee, aka the only real feminism out there but I'm guessing it's not as sellable not as catchy. While I love that it's shedding it's skin, of being a dirty or bad word. But is any of this Girl Power, Feminist, Girl Boss stuff actual helping those that need it. Do any profits support shelters for homeless women, programs for young girls in need, shelters for those escaping abuse. It would be a great way, for brands to really support and use these terms to really benefit all women. While some may, and I hope so I have to say we will continue to fight, to listen and to voice.

Girl power is alive and well, but she doesn't need a song or a eye catching outfit this time. Instead theirs a million hands, and they are gripped yours tight and if you let go   they will grab you. Not by a pussy, like I said I'm not about hurting cats, but by your being  and they will remind you that you can go out and exist in a world that's telling you no. It may not be perfect and not look how it's meant to, but when I think about the amount of support I see and real love. I'm close to doing a peace sign,  and shouting it at anyone who says it's not needed. A zigazig ah.