Everyone has things that they like. Whether it’s a sport, video game, movie, or a specific food item, we all have interests that make us who we are. Essentially, this is what makes social interactions so fun because everyone is their own person who has their own opinion. One thing that bugs me about these conversations about interests is when some interests are judged, and I find that this occurrence is most common when it comes to feminine things.

Obviously, I am not saying everyone is judgmental when it comes to this topic, however, I have noticed that a lot of people find it cringeworthy when people enjoy things that are targeted towards a female audience. What bugs me even more is that this kind of reaction is not shown when talking about boyish interests. For example, when it comes to things like makeup, cute accessories, boy bands, and pink clothing, people are not always accepting, especially if you don’t identify as a woman. And even if you are a girl, you will still be labeled as “annoying” or “cringe” even though you are simply enjoying the things you enjoy. On the flipside, when it comes to things like video games, football, action movies, and rock music, society is way more forgiving, and you will be labeled “cool” if you enjoy one of these things. 

In my opinion, this kind of reaction is deeply rooted in misogyny and sexism. Even if some people may deny it, judging people based on their girly interests is sexist, as you are basically saying that people should not like something stereotypically liked by a certain gender. Typically, women are seen as weak and emotional, so it is often assumed that when they like something, they grow attached to it because it relieves them from their dramatic life. This is so untrue because everyone uses their interests as a sort of relief, and women are not the only ones who are emotional. It just so happens that women tend to show more emotions because of, as previously mentioned, misogyny. This idea that men can’t be overly dramatic or enjoy feminine things because that makes them weak.

At the end of the day, I hope YLHS students are open and accepting of everyone’s opinions, as that will help create a safer environment for everyone on campus. It is totally normal to like or dislike things, but not ok to judge others for it. When asked about this, Jessica Li (10) said, “I feel like judging people for their hobbies is very shallow. Just because you don’t share interests doesn’t mean you can make fun of others. Maybe if you tried it out you might see that you like it too.” I think she made a great point about how we can understand each other by potentially trying new things. This way we can see why others like the things we dislike and find a common ground.