Bestselling author Courtney Summers‘ mission is to let girls know that “whatever you’re going through and however you feel, you’re not alone.” Leveraging the success of her latest novel, All The Rage, which tells the story of a teenage girl who dedicates her life to fighting injustice after being raped, her #ToTheGirls2016 campaign shares needed supportive messages on social media.
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Twitter is already buzzing with people eager to share positive thoughts with young girls. And there are plenty of important lessons to be learned, for people of all ages. Check out what people are saying:
1. Girls should bust stereotypes of what it means to be female
Who says you can’t be a nerd and feminine at the same time? Or that you can’t be ambitious without being a “ball buster?”
#Tothegirls It's okay to be "conventionally" feminine and love nerdy things.
— Bebecas Ocha (@LatinaScribbles) January 21, 2016
#ToTheGirls2016 Don't let anyone make you feel bad for being ambitious. Don't feel guilty for wanting big things.
— Kody Keplinger (@Kody_Keplinger) January 21, 2016
#ToTheGirls2016 Screw sayings like "women shouldn't" "women don't". Do what you want and ignore stupid gender roles and sexist remarks.
— ✨ (@feminizza) January 21, 2016
2. Don’t feel pressure to apologize or make yourself small
Too often, women and girls are made to feel like they have to make nice and put others’ feelings above their own. It’s time to stand up for our own interests!
#ToTheGirls2016 Don't tolerate anyone who expects you to apologize for your opinion, your accomplishments, or the space you occupy.
— Tiffany Schmidt (@TiffanySchmidt) January 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/ImAmandaNelson/status/690220256485183488
3. Don’t let your ‘imperfections’ get you down
It’s hard for young girls to feel beautiful amidst all the stunning young celebs, like Kylie Jenner, who work so hard at being perfect. #ToTheGirls2016 reminds us that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
#tothegirls use your cracks to let the light shine more brightly @laurenbohn#allgirlchallenge
— Flying Bridges (@flyingbridges) January 21, 2016
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4. It’s time to let go of the culture of ‘frenemies’
Life is hard enough for young girls without worrying that your best friends are going to go all MeanGirls and dress you down. #ToTheGirls reminds girls to support one another.
https://twitter.com/Ariannebooklove/status/690244025400561664
https://twitter.com/ImAmandaNelson/status/690222130303119362
5. Grown women can learn a lot from girls — and vice versa
Girls haven’t had time to pick up all our bad habits and inspire a sense of possibility in us. Open yourself up to advice from young girls, who still believe they can shape the world around them. And girls? Don’t be afraid to open up to grown women, because they were probably once a lot more confused than you are today.
My 9yo girl calls me out if I ever say 'man' when it could be 'person.' She reminds me that words shape reality. Use yours well. #tothegirls
— Sheila M Averbuch threads.net/sheilamaverbuch (@sheilamaverbuch) January 21, 2016
My 19-year old daughter got a tattoo and my 3-year old daughter dresses herself. Their bodies belong to them. #tothegirls
— Yanira Castro (@ycastro1978) January 5, 2016
6. And we should also help them avoid making the same mistakes we did
Thanks to the cult of youth that permeates our entire society, older women often feel threatened by younger women, whether it’s in the workplace or the dating scene. But as we age, let’s remember that we have a responsibility to mentor young girls and pass on lessons about everything we learned the hard way.
https://twitter.com/CAStinchcombe/status/690201621343502337
7. Sometimes sharing our darkest secrets can be life-changing
Society pressures girls to be perfect, which makes girls and women secretive. But it’s time to break out of those negative patterns, because sharing your secrets can help both you and others heal.
https://twitter.com/BootlegBoudica/status/690161485104939009
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