A woman says her mother raised her to chase anything she wanted, so hearing grown women call themselves ‘just a girl’ stopped feeling cute

The phrase “I’m just a girl” has become a staple of online humor, but not everyone finds it funny. Gemma, who shares content on TikTok, recently posted a video expressing her frustration with the trend, as reported by the Daily Dot. The “just a girl” line usually comes out when someone makes a minor error, and it works as a cutesy way to deflect responsibility for common mishaps.

Gemma points to a driver hitting a curb and brushing off the incident by claiming they are “just a girl.” She believes the habit is damaging, as she argues the phrase demeans women and infantilizes them. Her view is rooted in her own upbringing. Gemma credits her mother, whom she describes as a strong woman, for pushing her to pursue any goal she set for herself. Raised with that mindset, she finds the idea of labeling herself as “just a girl” limiting.

She feels that using such language implies she is being looked down on, which is a far cry from the empowering messages she grew up seeing in the media. Gemma is not trying to put other women down or police their speech. However, she wants women to recognize they can do much more than a catchphrase suggests.

She says the phrase makes her feel looked down on

The reaction to her video shows how divided people are on the topic. Some viewers stood firmly with Gemma, agreeing that the “just a girl” trend undermines the progress women have made. However, others felt it wasn’t a serious issue and that the phrase was just a bit of lighthearted fun. The catchphrase borrows from No Doubt’s 1995 single Just a Girl, a song that mocked the idea of women as fragile and incapable.

On TikTok, the “just a girl” joke is now attached to everyday mistakes. Self-deprecating moments travel well online. Gemma is tired of hearing “just a girl” used as a shield for simple mistakes, and she has made it her mission to change that. The debate is likely to continue as more viewers find her video.

Some commenters in the TikTok video took to saying, “It’s literally in-built misogyny.” Some also said the same, including the popular phrase, “This and the term ‘Girl Math’.” However, some in the video commented, “It’s the biggest form of ragebait.” While another said, “It’s always felt regressive.”