I've found myself apologizing a lot for the name of an organization I am very heavily involved with, Girl Develop It. I am the chapter leader/founder of the Burlington, Vermont chapter of this 501c3 non-profit which has over 36 chapters across the US and Canada. We help tip the scales in the male heavy tech industry by teaching women how to code. People ask me why this organization has Girl in the name, in spit of the fact that we teach adults. I've given excuses, commiserated in my understanding that society infantilizes women and speculated that the name came from a tongue in cheek idea, maybe an inside joke or a cheeky/attention catching name. In truth, I don't know where the name really came from and it doesn't actually matter to me.
When I was a teen I hated my body, my face, and other women. Being a girl meant being afraid, being weak, and acting dumb to keep attention off yourself so that you can fly under the radar. Then I found a movement called Riot Grrrl. In this movement, I found role models, women who sang, made art, taught each other, and spoke about loving yourself and your friends, in spite of the competition and desperation that society compels you to feel. Riot Grrrl changed my life, in fact it may have saved my life.
I want to be part of a society that changes the connotation of the word Girl. I want to help blaze a trail for other women to feel empowered and shine. I want to help them find camaraderie with each other and mentor each other. By helping to build a world where Girl means Power we can show women, and in turn young girls, that they can be who they want to be.
Girl Develop It has changed me. We are also changing the world. So you know what... I'm proud of our name. And I'm proud to be a girl/woman/revolutionary.
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