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Artist Creates A Comic To Show How Wrong The “I’m Not Like The Other Girls” Attitude Really Is
Julie Hang has always been doing cartoon drawings. Ever since she was a little kid. But there’s something else that Julie had dedicated a lot of her younger days to. Alienating herself from others and rationalizing to herself that it’s ok because she’s “not like the other girls.”
“I was a shy, anxious kid, and had a hard time making friends,” Julie told Bored Panda. “Instead of recognizing my anxiety and trying to overcome it, I’d thought I’m just not like the other girls. Reading ‘me vs. other girls’ comics online validated those negative feelings and stereotypes I had towards other girls, and made me feel like judging others was the ‘cool’ thing to do.”
More info: juliehang.com | Instagram
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“I became judgmental and presumptive towards my peers, categorizing other girls into stereotypes before I even got to know them,” the artist said. “I made such a point of staying away from those stereotypes that I didn’t let myself experience things that I thought ‘other girls’ were into, including presumably girly things like going shopping, dressing up, and getting your nails done – things that I later found I actually enjoy doing!”
However, as time went by, Julie developed not only as an artist, but as a person as well. She began to realize that bitterness doesn’t lead to anything good. “Meeting more people and getting to know them helped open up my world view, especially when I attended summer camp in high school and, later, art school.”
“It was a blank slate for everyone, which presented me the option to let go of all of those categories and those stereotypes towards “other girls” that I had held onto for so long. So I did just that. What followed could only be described as an epiphany – I had been setting myself apart from the very people I felt I belonged with the most. There was so much I had in common with ‘other girls’! I made lifelong friends from a variety of backgrounds and interests who are bright, hilarious, loving, kind – girls who are unique in their own way!”
Image credits: juliehangart
Looking back, Julie said that social isolation really affected her. “When you’re young and still trying to figure out who you are, the one thing you really want to have is individuality. There are lots of healthy ways to discover yourself, like joining a club where you can meet people with similar interests. Then there is the ‘I’m not like other girls’ comic ideas online that communicates that you are indeed unique but does so by putting other girls down.”
However, she successfully got rid of this dangerous mindset and has a lot going for her. Having graduated from Otis College of Art & Design with a major in Animation, Julie’s now a motion designer at Part IV, a digital marketing agency. When she’s not motion-designing, she’s full of drawing ideas for future comics, design characters, do painting studies… pretty much anything you can see on her Instagram.
She also believes that the trend of relatable comics for girls is slowly changing for the better. “In recent years, I’ve felt as though webcomics are headed in a more positive and inclusive direction, with deeper meanings and consideration for their readers, and I’m more than happy to be contributing to that movement,” the artist added.
Here’s what people said about Julie’s comic and the whole “I’m not like the other girls” topic in general
What do you think ?
Liz Perry 5 years ago
How much to you cringe when a boy tells you 'you're not like other girls'. Blech!
Juniper 5 years ago
When a guy says that what he means is "I have generally low regard for your entire gender but im willing to make an exception for you." And thats is not a fcking compliment....
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Jasmine Hufflepuff Henderson 5 years ago
I tried this. I tried fitting in with other girls, but I found out they did nothing but talk about me behind my back. I was bullied for being different, for liking video games, for wearing non fashionable clothes, but graphic tees. These were all groups of girls. I was shy, but tried to fit in, but I had another girl tell me. "You will never fit in with us for liking the things you like and being who you are. Stop trying." I hung out with my small group of friends after school, but to this day I still don't fit in with other girls. But I've accepted if other girls don't like me for who I am, then I won't change their minds. Even in college it's very cliquey and I get laughed at or get weird looks from other girls for being me. But at this point I'm used to it and I'm going to continue being me even if others don't approve of it. This is who I am and I'm happy to be me. I would rather not be like other girls than be part of a group that bullies other people just for liking different things.
Suzanne Harris 5 years ago
"I asked why. And they flat out told me it was because I was a boy wannabe in my graphic tshirts and because I played video games." This is almost word for word what I dealt with my entire life growing up as a lower middle class kid in a mostly upper middle to upper class school district. I love all things nerdy, and I was fully excommunicated for it. I was one of maybe four girls in our Robotics Club, and the same with our Anime Club. Reading your posts here was like reading my own mind.
Load More Replies...
Charlotte Dupre 5 years ago (edited)
Do you really think misfits never tried to fit in before???
ghostFluff 1 year ago
sometimes we do, and sometimes we fail. sometimes we don't. i'm not saying, however, that getting rejected doesn't mean you can't try again with other people. if they reject you and tell you that you can't fit in, they really don't deserve you.
Load More Replies...
Liz Perry 5 years ago
How much to you cringe when a boy tells you 'you're not like other girls'. Blech!
Juniper 5 years ago
When a guy says that what he means is "I have generally low regard for your entire gender but im willing to make an exception for you." And thats is not a fcking compliment....
Load More Replies... Jasmine Hufflepuff Henderson 5 years ago
I tried this. I tried fitting in with other girls, but I found out they did nothing but talk about me behind my back. I was bullied for being different, for liking video games, for wearing non fashionable clothes, but graphic tees. These were all groups of girls. I was shy, but tried to fit in, but I had another girl tell me. "You will never fit in with us for liking the things you like and being who you are. Stop trying." I hung out with my small group of friends after school, but to this day I still don't fit in with other girls. But I've accepted if other girls don't like me for who I am, then I won't change their minds. Even in college it's very cliquey and I get laughed at or get weird looks from other girls for being me. But at this point I'm used to it and I'm going to continue being me even if others don't approve of it. This is who I am and I'm happy to be me. I would rather not be like other girls than be part of a group that bullies other people just for liking different things.
Suzanne Harris 5 years ago
"I asked why. And they flat out told me it was because I was a boy wannabe in my graphic tshirts and because I played video games." This is almost word for word what I dealt with my entire life growing up as a lower middle class kid in a mostly upper middle to upper class school district. I love all things nerdy, and I was fully excommunicated for it. I was one of maybe four girls in our Robotics Club, and the same with our Anime Club. Reading your posts here was like reading my own mind.
Load More Replies... Charlotte Dupre 5 years ago (edited)
Do you really think misfits never tried to fit in before???
ghostFluff 1 year ago
sometimes we do, and sometimes we fail. sometimes we don't. i'm not saying, however, that getting rejected doesn't mean you can't try again with other people. if they reject you and tell you that you can't fit in, they really don't deserve you.
Load More Replies...
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