Song: Just a Girl-No Doubt
Songwriters: Thomas Dumont and Gwen Stefani
Released: September 21st, 1995
Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I’m exposed
And it’s no big surprise
Oh no! It a girl! What do we do!!!!
Don’t you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand
Just because I am girl does not mean I need to hold somebody’s (particularly a male) hand. Just because I am a girl does not mean I need be attached to someone else in order to live my life.
Cause I’m just a girl, little ol’ me
Well don’t let me out of your sight
Oh, I’m just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don’t let me have any rights
Oh. I’ve had it up to here!
Women have always been viewed as secondary to men. We get paid less, treated like objects, and have to fit the perfect stereotype. If we don’t do these things, we get chastised.
The moment that I step outside
So many reasons
For me to run and hide
This makes me think of the #metoo movement. Girls are viewed a sexual objects and are prone to sexual assault at a young age.
I can’t do the little things
I hold so deer
Cause it’s all those little things
That I fear
I would love to do more things but I am too afraid to do those things in fear of judgement and ridicule
Cause I’m just a girl
I’d rather not be
Cause they won’t let me drive
Late at night
Parents are more protective of girls than boys. They set more rules on girls espiecally when it comes late night activities. When I was younger, I often had a curfew and strict rules of what I could and could not do.
Oh I’m just a girl
Guess I’m some kind of freak
Cause they all sit and stare
With their eyes
This relates more with my disability. I often get looks because I act differently then everybody or everyone knows that I have a disability so they look and laugh at my existence.
Oh I’m just a girl
Take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh, I’ve had it up to here!
I have had it up to here with the amount of bullshit that I have had to deal with in my life.
Oh, am I making myself clear?
I’m just a girl
I’m just a girl in the world
That’s all that you’ll let me be!
I want to be more than just a face in the crowd. I want to be successful. I want to make a name for myself. I want to prove that my gender does not define my success.
Oh I’m just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Make me worry some
I am worried about what other people think. I am worried about the most minuscule things because I want to fit in. Truth is, I can’t.
Oh I’m just a girl, what’s my destiny?
What I’ve succumbed to
Is making me numb
When you are a girl, sometimes it’s hard to succumb to the sexism around you. You want to stand up but do not know how. I felt this way for a long time.
Oh I’m just a girl, my apologies
What I’ve become is so burdensome
Oh I’m just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum there’s no comparison
Don’t get me wrong here I love being a girl. It’s just that it can get rough sometimes.
Oh, I’ve had it up to!
Oh, I’ve had it up to!!
Oh, I’ve had it up to here
I love the protest at the end. It just goes to show that we will not be silenced. We will not play second fiddle and we will certainly not be mistreated.
In Writing 