In 2022, No Doubt’s hit song “Just a Girl” had a re-emergence on TikTok, sparking a new satirical and humorous trend to capture the magic of girlhood. Female creators use the sound to post “girly” moments like, “trying to save money but I’m literally just a girl,” adding clips of shopping trips, fancy dinners and coffee dates. The #imjustagirl has over 1.7 million posts on TikTok, amassing popularity and highlighting the joys of being a woman.
However, these seemingly innocent quips are more damaging than they appear. The trend has shifted into a way for women to dismiss responsibility and limit themselves. Online content like this also shifts into dismissing intelligence, “I’m just a girl, I can’t do math.” It reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and reinforces the idea “that women are weaker, smaller, and stupider,” undermining women's progress in a time when it’s important to have strength.
The trend stems from the same cultural mindset as “boys will be boys,” excusing the “energetic, rough, or improper” behavior of boys as natural. “I’m just a girl” is the female equivalent, framing women as helpless and less competent. Together, these sayings reinforce gender roles where men can misbehave without accountability and women are expected to shrink themselves and lower expectations for their gender. These stereotypes are damaging to both genders, confining men to restrictive standards of masculinity and expecting women to shrink themselves to meet outdated expectations.
While the trend seems relatable and playful on the surface, 2025 is not the time for women to reduce themselves or avoid doing hard things.
Since President Donald Trump was elected, his actions have shown a strong stance against women's rights. Trump has cut women’s health research, and conservative Supreme Court justices decided to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2021, leading to 12 states passing total abortion bans.
Women’s right to choose has been heavily restricted, and Trump’s choices have contributed to a political climate that threatens women’s bodily autonomy and reproductive health.
Besides political actions, Trump’s interactions with women also reflect a deeply misogynistic outlook. Recently, he even told a female reporter, “Quiet! Quiet, piggy” when she questioned him about the Epstein files Nov. 14.
Notable political figures appointed by Trump also share similar outlooks, such as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is a supporter of Doug Wilson, a pastor who advocates for ending women’s right to vote, women being submissive to their husbands and America being a patriarchal society.
The current administration and its supporters have made it clear they are against women’s rights and progress, so it’s extremely alarming to see women minimize their value and success online through the “I’m just a girl” trend. Embracing this once funny and cute trend now trivializes women's strength and reinforces narratives of gender stereotypes women can’t escape. By participating in this trend that downplays their own power, women are compliant with an administration against them, making it harder to resist or challenge their authority.
The entire trend is based on “internalized sexism”, strengthening the stereotypes young women hear their entire lives. With 25% of TikTok users being under the age of 20, and 56% of TikTok users being female, the platform has a predominantly young female audience. Research shows young girls are most influenced by or identify with women, and many teenagers say they feel personally connected to social media influencers, leading them to mimic their behavior and actions.
When female influencers say, “I’m just a girl,” it doesn’t just downplay their achievements or belittle themselves; it warps self-perception and conditions young women to accept limiting gender roles and stereotypes.
Many would argue the “I’m just a girl” trend is a harmless trend encapsulating the female experience. Whether we like it or not, it really is that deep.
This trend and cultural shift are happening at the same time as women’s health funding is being rolled back, reproductive freedom is being stripped and influential political leaders support patriarchal values. It's not the time for women to minimize themselves to “just girls” when many powerful people already view them that way, or as less.
Instead, we need to dive into the real meaning behind the lyrics of the song that the trend stems from, “Just a Girl” by No Doubt. Sung by Gwen Stefani, the song is a tale of female empowerment written to fight back against gender stereotypes and systemic sexism. When Stefani sings, “Oh, I’m just a girl, what’s my destiny,” she insists the lyrics are sarcasm. The lyrics challenge us to reject roles forced on us, a reminder to claim our power and not surrender it.
Abby Shriver is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Abby about their column? Email them at as064024@ohio.edu
Instagram- @abbyshriver_
