Girl power ?

Yesterday you asked me about the top you were wearing and I replied –“It says, Girl Power”. You looked surprised and asked “Why? Do girls have electricity? I don’t have electricity”. I explained that power can mean many things, power to do things, accomplish things. You looked a little annoyed and said “ I don’t understand, wind has power to blow down the trees, electricity has power to light the house, what can girls do”. I explained about human power while you put on the top and found the undies that said 'Monday' and rolled my eyes over your choice of socks, then you asked me – “ OK, so do boys have power , why does the top say girl power, why not boy power or kid power? ”

This is the shirt that started this conversation

I stared at you at a loss of words as you said – “This doesn’t make sense, I don’t like the top very much” and marched downstairs to play hockey (with a slinky, its complicated! your hockey rules...).

Oh my beloved child, what a wonderful question, why girl power, why not boy power. You are right, absolutely right. The moment you said it, I felt bad for buying this top , for corrupting your 3 year old mind, the top should just say power. How wonderful will it be to live in a world where the word power just means power, doesn’t matter if you are a boy or girl.

I have some idea how this phrase girl power became popular. It was meant to be for empowering young girls and to make them believe that they have the power to be anything they want to be. When I was young, I loved this/similar phrase, to me it meant, girls can have power too, they can also do things like the boys, girls are awesome...but I see your point.

When I was growing up, I took education for granted. my generation did not think that education was just for one gender (When I say my generation, I mean generation in my social and economic background, I know that there are still millions of girls who are denied basic education) . I would have scoffed at the idea if anyone gave me a T shirt that said girl education, how stupid that would sound to me! 

I love the fact that you take it for granted that power is just power. I love that to you, girl power doesn't make sense, it doesn't empower you because you are already empowered. You don't think you are less powerful because you are a girl. 

Amma apologizes to you for buying this shirt. More power to you my dear sweet child!