Cyber Feminine
The hottest and scariest thing to be on the internet right now is a girl. Girlhood is in its heyday post-Barbie movie and Eras tour. The internet is essentially littered with being just a “24-year-old teenage girl” or a “girl in the world.” This is not Peter Pan syndrome (or the syndrome of the man who never grows up); so, what is it?
Linguistics, and a little bit of the construction of the concept of girlhood online. Girlhood is fun. Girlhood is innocent. Girlhood, above all, is simple. Womanhood deals with the real world, with rape culture, the pink tax, wage gaps, and misogyny. These are all things women have dealt with for decades, and no one is denouncing feminism when they linguistically claim girlhood over womanhood. To experience girlhood is a choice to celebrate the female experience, while to experience womanhood is what women do offline, anyway. Breaking down the linguistics of 'woman' and 'girl' themselves presents us with a clear disconnect between the terms. Take, for example, the formula for any trend circulating girlhood: girl + X. By this, I mean girl dinner, hot girl walk, girl math, and girl blogging, among tens of other girl-claimed activities. However, if the word 'girl' was substituted for the word 'woman' in any of those instances, the tone completely shifts from silly and juvenile to slightly off-putting. The terms “woman math” or “hot woman walk” suddenly shift the focus from a wholesome female experience to something that could be interpreted as objectifying or inappropriate. This linguistic disparity underscores the societal perceptions and expectations attached to girlhood and womanhood.
The prefix "girl" in various trends and activities associated with girlhood conveys a sense of innocence, playfulness, and camaraderie. It emphasizes carefree exploration of life and the world around, unburdened by the weight of societal expectations. In contrast, the term "woman" often carries connotations of maturity, responsibility, and societal norms. Activities framed within the context of womanhood are expected to align with established social standards and may not allow for the same level of playful experimentation. This linguistic contrast reflects a larger societal issue: the tendency to infantilize girls and restrict the agency of women. By celebrating girlhood through trends like "girl power" or "girl boss," society often conveys that empowerment and assertiveness are acceptable in girls but might be perceived as threatening in women. This perpetuates gender inequalities and limits the freedom of adult women to express themselves without judgment fully. Language matters, and the words we choose have a much deeper meaning than we may think. Exploring the subtle differences in language between girlhood and womanhood on social media gives us valuable insights into the intricate nature of femininity in today's digital era. By studying the words used to express these experiences, we can gain a deeper understanding of the societal beliefs and expectations placed on girls and women. Once again, the hottest and scariest thing on the internet right now is a girl, but in the real world, there's transformative power in embracing womanhood.
