Yeah, I’m a girl and I like football.
We all know those girls that would do anything for a guy’s attention, right? They would even go as far as drinking things they don’t like or watching sports just because the guys like it. Those girls would completely fake their interests just for a guy to pick them. But what about the girls who actually like these things? What if a girl actually likes beer or hockey? In both scenarios, girls are categorized as “pick-mes”. Let’s break down what this means and why it’s completely fake.
A pick-me girl is a girl who likes things that are generally categorized as masculine or who isn’t overtly feminine. For example, liking video games or being a “tomboy” may get you the title of a pick-me. The reason why this term has gone viral is because many people believe that girls will like or do certain things solely for the male gaze. In some cases, this may be true, however, there are many instances where women are just interested in things because that’s what they like.
So why is this problematic? If it isn’t obvious already, shaming women for their genuine interests is not okay. The simple premise that women can’t like something because it’s masculine or it traditionally is a male-dominated interest is problematic. Interests and activities shouldn’t be gatekept, especially by other women. In a generation where we value equality and gender fluidity, we seem to frequently enforce the idea that it’s not okay to like certain things within a specific set of rules.
Calling someone a pick-me girl not only makes fun of the woman but also reinforces gender norms upon people. While trying to call someone out on “problematic behavior” (which it’s not), you would also be degrading other expressions of femininity and masculinity at the same time. There’s almost a multiplier effect of using the phrase that we aren’t always thinking about.
Now, I know what you may be thinking, I’m missing the point of a true pick-me girl. It’s not just about girls liking traditionally masculine things; it’s about girls purposefully doing this for the attention of men or in a flirtatious way. I get it, it can be annoying. However, I don’t think we should be shaming girls for acting a certain way. Especially when we would be reinforcing gender norms for doing so.
So to all the “pick-me” girls out there: drink your beer, watch your football and don’t let anybody make you feel bad for liking these things!