The Return of Girlhood
design: Finley Banks
Summer ‘23 was for the girls.
by CLAUDIA SCHMIDT ★ OCTOBER 26, 2023
“Do you have an extra hair tie?” “Anyone have chapstick?” “You look so pretty! I love your outfit.” I’ve always felt that being a girl meant being a part of a community. One where we always supported each other and there was an underlying understanding of what it meant to be a girl in this generation. Though this support never really went away, it felt as though it was getting swept under the rug. Life moves fast, things happen, men happen, and before we know it we are coasting through the days. This summer was imperative to regaining our girlhood and coming together once again through common interest and experiences. And it all started with The Eras Tour.
I won’t even try to lie, I am a diehard Swifite. So the Eras Tour was my Superbowl. I remember my night, Nashville N3, so vividly. Due to weather, everyone in the stadium had to shelter in place for hours before we could see Taylor. It was amazing to me how you could tell we were all in this together. Singing her songs in the stadium tunnels to pass the time, exchanging friendship bracelets with random strangers, and chatting about life with the girls next to us on the floor. And despite being in a cramped stadium with people I didn’t know, I felt safe. That is the beauty of the Eras Tour. It is a space for the girls to enjoy a night with their favorite artist where they can dress up, dance, cry, and scream to their favorite songs. This was just the beginning of our girl-coded summer.
The classic debate: Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah? Or Lola Tung’s newly established team, Team Belly? No matter what team you are on, all the girls were on the couch Friday night tuning into the new episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Amazon Studios posted via Instagram that season 2 had doubled its viewership from season 1. This show mesmerized us in a way no show has before. It reminded us of the importance of friendship, love, and forgiveness. Not to mention the two love interests are extremely good looking. The girls were chatting, debating, and posting after every new episode. Friday nights were for the girls.
And then we were blessed with Barbie. I saw this movie three times in the theaters, first with my best friend. We made matching pink shirts and snuck in some Chick-Fil-A. I’m glad I got to see it for the first time with her. Everything was just so relatable and we–along with all the others girls in the theater–dressed in cute pink outfits, were laughing over shared experiences, and gasping when Ken called Barbie his "long-term, long-distance, low-commitment casual girlfriend.” Because we’ve been there. I feel like no man will ever understand the story of Barbie. What it feels like to grow up and realize men are always going to look down on you in some way or that you will never be able to fit into the box of what society considers to be “pretty.” This movie was an awakening that womanhood is so much more than that. Barbie didn’t back down. She took control of her life and saw her worth. No boy or any other person can do that for you. It’s time to remember who you are.
As summer comes to an end and we welcome autumn, let's not move on so fast. This summer was a second return to girlhood, to our bodies, to positive nostalgia, and embracing the power of adulthood. This fall, commit to yourself, create a new routine, and surround yourself with a good group of strong and special friends. No one can take away the summer we just had. Hold onto that feeling of love and community throughout the rest of this upcoming season and always remember that the girls have your back.