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She’s not like other girls. She’s totally unique. She eats pizza and hamburgers. She loves to drink beer, and she knows how to change a tire. She looks beautiful without makeup, and she listens to classic rock. She’s never worked out, but she maintains a six-pack effortlessly. She doesn’t have time to realize how beautiful she is because she’s reading 6 books a week.

Okay, you get the idea. Have you heard of this woman? A common trope in TV shows and movies, the “not like other girls” girl has transitioned into real life too. That’s where the “Not like the other girls” subreddit comes in. With 740k “unique individuals”, r/notliketheothergirls is a catalog of the cringiest posts of “people trying to be unique by defining themselves outside of the norm”. We’ve gathered some of the best posts for you to enjoy mocking, and when you’ve finished this list, be sure to check out Bored Panda’s last publication on the internet’s most special individuals right here.

As cringey as these posts are, I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for girls who think they need to distance themselves from other women. I too grew up watching countless films and TV shows written by men that depicted women as one-dimensional, ditzy sex symbols. In middle school, I thought I was special for playing sports and knowing every song by the Beatles. (No, I’m not proud of it.)

But this need to feel unique did not organically come from me. The idea that most girls are not multidimensional comes from internalized misogyny. Media promotes the idea that liking traditionally feminine things, such as getting your nails done or wearing makeup, makes women less interesting, vapid and unintelligent. And enjoying more masculine topics, like sports, makes women more appealing. These ideas are problematic for a number of reasons, but let’s start with the fact that there’s nothing wrong with being feminine.  

Contrary to what the media may make you believe, femininity can totally be cool. Historically, the word feminine has had a bit of a negative connotation. It’s often associated with weakness and listed alongside adjectives like dainty, delicate, pretty, soft, gentle and modest. While these are not all negative descriptors, they do tend to pigeon-hole femininity, and they’re certainly not empowering traits. On the contrary, some synonyms listed for the word masculine are valiant, strong and muscular. Oh, and let’s not forget that weak is listed as an antonym of masculine.

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These sexist definitions hurt both men and women. While femininity is used to promote the idea that women are weak, it’s also used as a grave insult for men. Being called “girly” or doing something “like a girl” have long been considered insults to men. To be teased is one thing, but to be compared to a woman? There are few greater insults to a fragile male ego, and I can’t think of a more blatant example of men viewing women as lesser. 

#3

They Had Me In The First Half Ngl

They Had Me In The First Half Ngl

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#4

Other Women

Other Women

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Another issue with the “not like other girls” idea is that it completely ignores the fact that human beings are complex. People are capable of painting their nails and being an athlete and being a scholar and wearing makeup and enjoying cooking all at the same time, regardless of their gender. It’s such an outdated belief to ignore the fact that masculinity and femininity can exist in harmony. Take for example the Taoist symbol of Yinyang, which “represents the two forces of balance that are opposite and complementary” alive in all of us. Every person can channel masculinity and femininity at different times, without stigmatizing either.

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#5

Feels Like This Was Just Made To Go On This Sub

Feels Like This Was Just Made To Go On This Sub

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In her article “Unpacking the Word: Feminine”, Virginia Vigliar explored how embracing the duality within all of us is a great way for us to reclaim the word. “Both [masculinity and femininity] are fundamental for balance, in our personal growth but also for political progress,” she noted. “To achieve change in societal hierarchies there is a need for a less patriarchal and masculine approach and a more feminine, feminist, nurturing one in our world.” Virginia recommends we first acknowledge how we’ve been conditioned to view masculine and feminine as antithetical and work to change our definitions to include more positive words. Feminine can mean powerful, nurturing and graceful: qualities that all genders should be proud to exhibit. 

#7

Only Nerds Like Her Know What A 404 Error Message Is

Only Nerds Like Her Know What A 404 Error Message Is

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The next issue with the “not like other girls” trope is that it’s often used in order to seek male approval. Have you ever heard a man say that he likes women who “order real food instead of salads”? Or that it’s so much more attractive when women embrace their “natural look” instead putting effort into their hair and makeup? These sorts of ideas make women feel like they’ll gain male acceptance if they seem “cool” enough or fit in well enough with the guys. Most girls would care if their boyfriend forgot to call them back or if his apartment has empty beer cans strewn about. But a cool girl is different. The reality is that women don’t need to change themselves for male approval. If you approve of yourself, that’s all that matters. And if a man thinks women are lame for being “like other girls”, I would advise him to get in touch with his feminine side. 

#10

A Woman…drinking… Beer??!! Scandal!!

A Woman…drinking… Beer??!! Scandal!!

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On the same note, women are often expected and encouraged to be competitive with one another, even when it’s completely unnecessary. The “Not like the other girls” subreddit has hundreds of examples of women who posted examples of their unique personalities completely unprompted. Why has existing become a competition? As women, we are constantly being compared to one another in society, we certainly don’t need to exacerbate it by making comparisons ourselves. 

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#13

I Sweat More Than The Other Girls

I Sweat More Than The Other Girls

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#14

Girls Would Never A Touch A Tool…

Girls Would Never A Touch A Tool…

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Chucky Cheezburger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm...3 cutting tools, pliers and a hex wrench set...Doesn't look like you're gonna fix much.

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A large reason the “not like other girls” idea has run rampant online is because the trope is extremely common on TV shows and in movies, particularly in romantic comedies. Kat in 10 Things I Hate About You, Olive in Easy A, Mary in There’s Something About Mary, Andy in The Devil Wears Prada, and Juno in Juno are just a few examples of popular films featuring female leads who are defined as distinct from other girls. In Juno, the main character even mentions that “jocks… always want freaky girls”. “Girls with horn-rimmed glasses and vegan footwear and goth makeup. Girls who, like, play the cello and read McSweeney's and wanna be children's librarians when they grow up. Oh, yeah, jocks totally eat that up. They won't admit it because they're supposed to be into cheerleaders.”

#16

This Is Actually So Dangerous To Promote

This Is Actually So Dangerous To Promote

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Lucy B
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not called street harassment for nothing. It's not a compliment. Maybe she should talk to the families of women who have been murdered for trying to ignore and get away from men "catcalling", then maybe she would "get it"

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#18

Wow, This Ruined My Morning

Wow, This Ruined My Morning

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Sometimes this idea is reinforced by juxtaposing the “unique girl” with a “typical girl” who is portrayed as traditionally feminine, sexy, not particularly intelligent or funny and often, mean. Even songs sometimes promote this toxic idea. Taylor Swift’s beloved hit You Belong With Me features the lyrics “You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset / She's going off about something that you said / 'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do” and “I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like / She'll never know your story like I do / She wears short skirts I wear T-shirts / She's Cheer Captain, and I'm on the bleachers”.  

#19

Oh My God! She Doesn't Date Boys, Just Real Men

Oh My God! She Doesn't Date Boys, Just Real Men

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Crease Almighty
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So you steal suit jackets? That’s weird and now his pants don’t match his jackets. Well done now he’s looks like an idiot.

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#20

Bro What Is This

Bro What Is This

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deanna woods
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd rather be able to vote than be able to own a gun. I don't vote on emotion, I vote based on what I think would be an intelligent choice.

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#21

Everyone Deals With Pain Differently. Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean Everyone Can

Everyone Deals With Pain Differently. Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean Everyone Can

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A subset of the “not like other girls” trope is the manic pixie dream girl. Another common character in popular films, this archetype is featured in Garden State, 500 Days of Summer, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and countless other films. The manic pixie dream girl’s main function is to “give new meaning to the male hero's life”. She’s inexplicably spontaneous, quirky and energetic, and she will change the male protagonist for the better by teaching him how to feel emotions or love. She dresses eccentrically and may have creatively dyed hair, but she often lacks character development. She exists for the growth of her male counterpart, but she’s usually not provided desires or ambitions of her own.

#22

Or I Mean You Could Want Both Too

Or I Mean You Could Want Both Too

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alexandra-savia avatar
ᴀʟᴇxᴏᴛʟ_ᴛʜᴇɢʀᴇᴀᴛ
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ok i fricking love that library. would stay there, and end up living behind the bookshelf. *someone goes to pick a book and my hand touches theirs* ok this is the start to a disney movie already. just play gnomeo and juliet’s “hello hello” and you’re done

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#23

This Was Posted By A Girl That I Went To School With. No Words…

This Was Posted By A Girl That I Went To School With. No Words…

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#24

I’m Not Like Other Girls. I Have Basic Empathy

I’m Not Like Other Girls. I Have Basic Empathy

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A great example of a novel (and subsequently a film) calling out the “not like other girls” trope is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. The main character Amy goes on a rant about the “cool girl” subset of this trope. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the monologue

“Cool Girls are above all hot… Cool Girls never get angry and let their men do whatever they want… Men actually think this girl exists. Maybe they’re fooled because so many women are willing to pretend to be this girl… I used to see men giddy over these awful pretender women, and I’d want to sit these men down and calmly say: You are not dating a woman, you are dating a woman who has watched too many movies written by socially awkward men… Oh, and if you’re not a Cool Girl, I beg you not to believe that your man doesn’t want the Cool Girl. It may be a slightly different version – maybe he’s a vegetarian, so Cool Girl loves seitan and is great with dogs... There are variations to the window dressing, but believe me, he wants Cool Girl, who is basically the girl who likes every f*cking thing he likes and doesn’t ever complain.”

#25

Why Would Someone Hate You For Reading? Isn't Reading Like.. One Of The Most Popular Hobbies In The World? Why Don't Just Read Together Or Recommend Us Some Good Books?

Why Would Someone Hate You For Reading? Isn't Reading Like.. One Of The Most Popular Hobbies In The World? Why Don't Just Read Together Or Recommend Us Some Good Books?

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naughtyallykat avatar
alexandra-savia avatar
ᴀʟᴇxᴏᴛʟ_ᴛʜᴇɢʀᴇᴀᴛ
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ugh yeah people only like girls who don’t read books and flunk out of school. ugh why doesn’t anyone understand!? (lol this is satire)

crowngemuk avatar
Mama Penguin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me wonder what kind of people she's been hanging out with and how she views girls/women in general. What sane girls/women would hate another for excelling in school and loving books?

anna-crockerrose avatar
Chilli
Community Member
1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hi, I'm I-Tell-People-To-Fu.ck-Off-When-They-Literally-Just-Say-Hi-To-Me

nataliedoran avatar
Natalie Doran
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe they just hate pretentious buttholes who think reading makes you superior

ellap5303 avatar
Slambamblam
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, they hate you because you act like you're better than everyone else just because you make good grades and do a simple task like reading and youre a pick me girl. 😀👍

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DONUT monster
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m always reading something and im one of the most popular people in the grade

geology-unicorn avatar
Feminist Percussionist
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hi "I get straight a's" (her fault for not introducing herself, as promised)

mb_11 avatar
Bored Toadette
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maaaybe they 'hate' you because of your personality? You look like a kind of person who believe you are better than others, after I was reading the last photo. I might be wrong. What do the others pandas here think? 🐼

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Nathan Beck
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure, THAT's why they hate you. Definitely not the fact that you're an arrogant b***h.

arobe353 avatar
PixxelDust
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, don't get me wrong here - but that actually was the geniune reason people didn't like me in primary. Because I got high marks and was in general a studious person. Kids don't really have a sense of logic lol

rhodabike6 avatar
Seabeast
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, women read more than men do on average, so where the heck is this coming from?

avaaneed avatar
Ava Aneed
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think hate is too strong a word. But sometimes, at least in my experience, if someone finds out that you got a good grade on something, even if you were trying to keep it secret, they can make a snarky or sarcastic comment that makes you uncomfortable like “oh of course you did” accompanied with an exasperated sigh or eye roll

lauralee_3 avatar
laura lee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah it's probably your snobbish behavior and self righteousness

enderpanreigns avatar
XRaine
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh wow! you read books?? that's crazy, my uterus never lets me do that!!

katyf avatar
Katie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They probably don't like you because you brag about the straight A's while some of us barely get enough sleep trying to catch up on schoolwork ;-; In my case, it's 9 school courses, dance class 2 days a week, and working at my job on the weekends XD but seriously this girl needs to switch up that attitude lol

clairebauling avatar
Crouching hippo hidden panda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or is it because you think you’re superior because, *checks notes* you read a … book?

zeke4809 avatar
Ezekiel Frye
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you think about it you are literally just being sexist… towards yourself

mje700510 avatar
RainWingRoyal
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Okay, I know this post is about stupid things, but um, I actually can answer this question, and it's because I'm a world-class nerd. Pokemon lunchbox, Captain Marvel backpack, obsessed with Wings Of Fire, in the D&D club, in the orchestra. Nerdest nerd ever.

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JessG
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You belong in this post. Plenty of girls/women/people like you. If any "girls hate you", it's not for those totally average reasons

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#26

Who Wants To Bet Her Husband Has A Side Chick?

Who Wants To Bet Her Husband Has A Side Chick?

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setsuriseikou
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And it's totally fine! You go, girl. Just don't try telling other women that they should all be good housewives.

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#27

Omg Like I'm So Quirky

Omg Like I'm So Quirky

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Women are awesome. I would love to be “like other girls” because that means powerful, intelligent, perceptive and brave. The idea that complex women are not the norm is just absurd. One dimensional portrayals of women in the media should not let us feel we have to imitate those characters in real life. As long as you avoid bragging about how unique you are to distance yourself from other women, I support you embracing your feminine and masculine sides however you like.

#29

Don't Know If This Counts But The Caption Convinced Me So...

Don't Know If This Counts But The Caption Convinced Me So...

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Deux
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The amount of people that use 'then' in place of 'than' these days is atrocious.

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#31

The Pick Me Girl In My Class Posted This On Her Instagram-

The Pick Me Girl In My Class Posted This On Her Instagram-

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Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it's not as if you can possibly enjoy makeup AND reading, right? That's just silly!

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#32

We. Are. Not. The. Same

We. Are. Not. The. Same

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#33

I Just…. Why 😅

I Just…. Why 😅

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Autumn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who tf calls them japanmitation shows. Its anime you quirky wannabe pleb.

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#34

Omg Make Up? I Rather Have Food Eh He I'm So Different

Omg Make Up? I Rather Have Food Eh He I'm So Different

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#35

Idk This Just Had Big Pick-Me Energy

Idk This Just Had Big Pick-Me Energy

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Man in the ceiling
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it bad I don’t see anything entirely wrong with this? Am I missing something? I legitimately can’t tell, the only part I see is they don’t get along with most women.

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