I'm aligned with this line of thought. Empowerment and self-esteem have to come from within. If you let what's happening around you define who you are and how you feel about yourself, it'll be very difficult to achieve anything in life. But once you've developed that confidence, you can achieve nearly anything, whether someone calls you a girl, a woman, or anything else.

On the other hand, there are also situations where the word "girl" will be used to undermine women in a group setting, to make them feel small and "not as good" in the eye of other people. And it's important, in those situations, to learn to set boundaries in a respectful way. I don't think coming from a place of victimhood and lashing out at others is the right way to go, but rather, acknowledging your own worth and presenting yourself as a person of value will be much better.

In the end, it's not so much "what" you do, but where the response is coming from that counts.

I'm enjoying these posts of yours @kimamourette. Looking forward to reading your next piece!