HAVE you ever heard the term “A Girl’s Girl”? Like many other newly coined phrases and words, it is a product of the younger generation’s discourse on various social phenomena. The term “A Girl’s Girl” refers to a woman or girl who consistently supports and uplifts the women around her. She does not see femininity as a weakness but as something to be celebrated and cherished. A Girl’s Girl does not engage in gossip or judgement about the women around her, and she is always willing to extend a helping hand when needed. This term captures the positivity of the inclusivity and support that have flourished in the modern era. However, it also captures the reversal of age-old narratives on how we view various gender norms.

The concept of “A Girl’s Girl” creates young women who are the antithesis of those women who have generationally reinforced the existence of a patriarchy by systematically instilling various beliefs. These beliefs, which are often disguised as “traditional values”, control even the minute characteristics of an individual—from the clothes they wear to the manner in which they speak. If a young girl or woman were to behave or think in a manner that is not prescribed by the belief system, then they are given various negative labels or, worse yet, treated as an outcast. The most appalling aspect of this system is the fact that although it is designed to suppress women, it is often women themselves who end up judging or victimising other women without even realising the role they are playing or understanding why they seem to be reinforcing rules that were created by a patriarchal system.

Even in movies or shows, all kinds of relationships between women are often reduced to nothing more than petty rivalry and shallow or short-lived friendships. Additionally, “mean girl” characters are often highlighted and portrayed on television, where female characters are shown to bully others and be cruel to them, especially other girls or women. Only recently have we begun to see female characters and their various relationships being portrayed with the depth and beauty that might flourish in the real world.

Within the span of three words, the younger generation has captured all of these ideas and successfully created a new perspective for younger generations to view gender norms, especially as it relates to how women treat each other. Today’s generation will no longer be exposed solely to movies or shows where women compete bitterly with each other and believe that this is the norm. Instead, they will be exposed to terms and concepts such as “A Girl’s Girl” and grow up with the firm belief that women should support each other and not tear each other down.

A rather extraordinary quality of Generation Z and other younger generations is the power they hold in changing how we view society. Through something as simple as a trend or a newly coined phrase, they can easily dismantle problematic belief systems and instead introduce their peers to views that are more inclusive. They also have the power to have an important discourse on any topic without cluttered terminology or complex ideologies that often cause most people to be excluded from contributing.

The discussion or trend of “A Girl’s Girl” is only one example of such an occurrence. They have also created other important discussions on social media platforms such as that of the “tradwife”, which discusses the place of traditional femininity and gender roles in a modern society. Even seemingly superficial trends such as the “demure” catchphrase which recently overtook social media is a reference to femininity and how it is perceived in society.

Many of the social media trends that pervade our daily lives are often just that—trends that come and go within a short span of time. However, these trends have now begun to take on the new role of challenging and even changing our very own ideologies. Just like the real world, the online world also contains societies and niches which create conversations that are capable of educating the younger generations and introducing them to existing problems in a way that mobilises them and encourages them to be proactive. As such, we have the responsibility to not only participate in trends as they come and go, but also to understand the deeper conversations that they often represent so that we can see the world through more than one lens.