Redefining "Girlie": Progressing Away From the Girlie-Man Stereotype

To:  Arnold Schwarzenegger and other public figures who have used the term "girlie-man"

Dear [Public Figure],

In recent years, you have used the term “girlie” to describe wimpy qualities and ineffective actions. As a public figure, your words impact the way we think. We are the Girl Steering Committee, the leadership body of Girls For A Change, a national non-profit organization that empowers girls and women to create social change in our communities.

We are powerful, innovative, and brilliant girls.
We invite you to join us in reclaiming the term “girlie.”

We know that you would be honored to partner with us to create equal opportunities for all people and that you do not want to be a public figure whose language perpetuates stereotypes about girls as wimps. We know that you recognize that we influence a vast network of young women and girls who have the power to change the world. We ask ourselves, how can you make fun of and put down a large fraction of our community?

We invite you to join us and consider the effect on our leadership opportunities when the word “girlie” and “girlie-men” enters our public lexicon to imply weakness and ineffectiveness. Where does that leave us as girls now and as women in the future – especially in leadership roles? Where does that leave boys and men who should see us as equals? Where does that place us in the universal struggle for equal rights?

How do we advance when, you, as a public figure in one of the most powerful countries in the world, perpetuate the use of a term which connotes wimpy and ineffective with the female gender?

Therefore, we would appreciate your efforts to ameliorate the situation by acknowledging our concerns and hearing us as we suggest solutions to create an atmosphere of equal opportunities. We will follow up with you shortly and give you details about how to join our campaign and reclaim the word “girlie.”

We ask that you reconsider the term you have used and partner with us to redefine what it means to be a girl, a woman, and a citizen of a state dedicated to the advancement of its entire people. We look forward to discussing this with you.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Redefining "Girlie": Progressing Away From the Girlie-Man Stereotype Petition to Arnold Schwarzenegger and other public figures who have used the term "girlie-man" was created by The Steering Committee of Girls for a Change and written by Kristen Lavelle (periwinkle642@yahoo.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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