The myth of the “Chill Girl” has been around for decades, from the low maintenance housewife archetype of the 50s, to the “no makeup” makeup trends of today. We can find her everywhere, in the shows we watch, in the clothes we see, even in the relationship tips we give and receive.
Girls, have you ever been judged or criticized for trying too hard? In lots of settings, visible work seems to draw scrutiny, whereas effortlessness is praised.
Everyday patterns and dialects have roots in long-standing norms that prized women’s calm over their ambition. A study published by Organization Science in 2024 found that men who express passion are more likely to be designated as “high potential,” whereas women with similar expressions of passion are less likely to receive that designation which is consistent with a gendered double standard.
We see this to be true in the typical 1950s household dynamic as well. According to the “History, Art & Archives” website of the United States House of Representatives, after World War II there was an economic boom, which allowed houses to survive off a single “breadwinner”, which was usually the man.
This pushed women into the background and devalued them as contributing members of the workforce, which remains a hurdle, even here at Oregon State University.
Mia Matsunaga, a computer science major at OSU said, “There’s a lot of pressure in classes to remain composed and quiet. Sometimes it feels like you have to be a little more reserved because the men want to lead.”
Matsunaga isn’t the only one feeling like this, according to a study performed at Brigham Young University when in a collaborative group women spent over 25% less time speaking than men. This evidence indicates that the amount of time women speak is shaped not by ability but by the active dynamics of the group setting.
But don’t let this get you down, ladies. We have grown a lot since Barbie was first introduced in the 1950’s.
These studies may show setbacks and barriers, but they also reveal why women today are fighting against these 50’s style norms, and all the room we have to grow.
According to the LinkedIn Economy Graph, the percentage of women in leadership roles went from 27.9% to 30.6% since 2015, showing a gradual but certain shift in industry. There has been a rise in women-owned businesses across the nation, college graduation rates are up, and remote work opportunities are opening doors for women to work from home.
It seems women are starting to adopt a more realistic and unapologetic way of being in the world and also here at OSU.
“If it feels like you’re always quieting a certain part of yourself that you can only engage with when you’re alone, maybe don’t do that. I don’t think other people matter as much as our minds make them out to,” said Charlie Meza, a second year in the Masters of English and Rhetoric Composition program.
Her words center on authenticity and originality, calling for full expression of every part of one’s identity.
According to Science Direct, our leadership and engagement are not reliant on our capacities, but on how much we choose to speak up in all environments. It’s shown that our words as women are the key to unlocking progress, recognition and belonging.
As Shirley Christom post-congresswomen said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” It’s time to sit at the table, ladies.
