Girls
MARINA
Challenging Stereotypes with MARINA's 'Girls'
MARINA's song 'Girls' is a critique of gender stereotypes and societal expectations placed on women. The lyrics express frustration with the narrow roles that women are often expected to fill, particularly the pressure to maintain a certain appearance and to engage in gossip and superficial conversations. The opening lines, 'Look like a girl but I think like a guy,' immediately challenge the idea that femininity is associated with a certain way of thinking or behaving. MARINA is asserting that her intellectual approach does not align with traditional gender norms.
The chorus, 'Girls are not meant to fight dirty / Never look a day past thirty / Not gonna bend over and curtsy for you,' further emphasizes the rejection of expectations that women should always be polite, youthful, and subservient. MARINA refuses to conform to these standards, highlighting the absurdity of such limitations. The song also touches on the theme of female competition, as seen in the lines about girls not befriending the singer because she does not participate in their calorie-counting conversations. This suggests a critique of how women are often pitted against each other in society.
The bridge of the song, where MARINA feels like she's been 'riding in a fast car / Burning dirty gas won't get you that far,' could symbolize her realization that following society's superficial path is unfulfilling. She vows to 'get the last laugh,' indicating her determination to succeed on her own terms. Overall, 'Girls' is a defiant anthem that encourages listeners to question societal norms and to embrace their individuality without succumbing to the pressures of conforming to gender stereotypes.