Girl. A Freighted Word.

 By Erica and Karen

We are grown women. We have always been feminists. We retired after long and reasonably successful careers. Are we girls? As in: "You go, girl!"

Sometimes.

When we were starting our careers, being called “girl” implied that we were cute, probably a little flighty, good for the sort of low level tasks given to short timers or summer hires. Girls were definitely not in it for the long haul, like men were. Girls didn't get the respect men did. So, we were not girls. We were women. We insisted on that. We were never girls while on the job.  

But now, things are different. The word "girl" has no power to undermine us. We no longer have to prove we are grownups, or that we can succeed.

And we have a soft spot in our hearts for “girl.” Girls are youthful and energetic, with exciting lives ahead of them, who refuse to go gently into the night. Just like us. So now we are, sometimes, girls.