“Are good girls happy?”
This question was asked by UNICEF India. It sent me into a whirlpool of thoughts. I was reminded of the times I was prohibited from doing something I liked by justifying it in the name of a good girl.
You’re a good girl, you won’t ever let your grades fall.
You’re a good girl, don’t waste too much time playing or entertaining yourself.
You’re a good good girl, you won’t be too frank with your guy friends.
You’re a good girl, don’t act out.
You’re a good girl, don’t talk about these secret topics.
You’re a good girl, you won’t ever have an affair with someone.
You’re a good girl, you’ll do as your told.
You’re a good girl, no one expected this from you. Like a good girl, we are supposed to act in a play written by society. And we fail our part even if a single minor mistake is committed.
A girl can remember hundreds of times her dreams were crushed by the “good girl” label. Since childhood, the aspiration of being a good girl dominates the life of a girl.
The aspiration is painful, pointless and overrated. Girls step over their happiness to qualify for this label. It’s present in every society, be it a radical religious one or the so-called modern one. The label places a gigantic responsibility on the girl to be even more obedient than before.
Ask the same question to any girl near you. Your eyes would well up with tears listening to her experiences. A good girl is not supposed to choose her profession and her partner herself. She’s not allowed to make a single decision herself.
In such a situation, ask your self, “Are good girls happy?”I’m sure your conscience would offer you a tight slap across your face.
To all the girls who face the same situation, I invite you all to defy the grounds laid to be a good girl. Let’s make the definition of a good girl and a happy girl the same. Your happiness matters more than the entire world. Always remember, the happiest girls are the actual good girls.