I'm Just A Girl
No Doubt Lyrics

Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
Remove the barriers that are preventing me from seeing the truth

I'm exposed
I'm vulnerable and open to judgment

And it's no big surprise
The societal expectations placed on me are overwhelming

Don't you think I know
I am aware of the stereotypes and limitations placed on me

Exactly where I stand
I understand my place in society

This world is forcing me
The expectations and limitations placed on me are suffocating

To hold your hand
To rely on someone else for support and guidance

'Cause I'm just a girl, little ol' me
Because of my gender, society sees me as weak and incapable

Well don't let me out of your sight
I am seen as unable to care for myself without male supervision

Oh, I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
My appearance defines me and delegitimizes my capabilities

So don't let me have any rights
My gender bars me from being able to independently make decisions for myself

Oh, I've had it up to here!
I'm fed up with the limitations and stereotypes placed on me

The moment that I step outside
The fear and judgement I face from society becomes immediate

So many reasons
There are a multitude of societal expectations and limitations that overwhelm me

For me to run and hide
I want to escape the suffocating expectations of society

I can't do the little things
Tasks that should be simple and easy are made difficult by expectations of society

I hold so dear
Things that I cherish, like independence, are taken away from me because of my gender

'Cause it's all those little things
The small, everyday limitations become overwhelming and suffocating

That I fear
The societal expectations and limitations of me scare me

I'd rather not be
I wish I didn't have to conform to the limitations and expectations of my gender

'Cause they won't let me drive
Gender roles and expectations prevent me from doing basic things like driving alone

Late at night
Even the time of day is dictated by expectations based on gender

Guess I'm some kind of freak
Society deems me as abnormal and not fitting the expectations of my gender

'Cause they all sit and stare
I am constantly being judged and scrutinized

With their eyes
Judgment and scrutiny is ever-present and suffocating

Take a good look at me
Look past societal expectations and limitations and see me for who I truly am

Just your typical prototype
I am a human being, the same as any other

Oh, I've had it up to here!
I am fed up with the suffocating expectations society places on me

Oh, am I making myself clear?
I want to make sure everyone understands how overwhelmed I feel by societal expectations

I'm just a girl
My gender does not define me or limit my capabilities

I'm just a girl in the world
I am a human being, trying to navigate the limitations and expectations placed on me

That's all that you'll let me be!
Society has put me in a box and limits my potential

Oh I'm just a girl, living in captivity
The limitations and expectations based on my gender keep me trapped

Your rule of thumb
Society's expectations based on gender are archaic and narrow-minded

Make me worry some
Society's expectations based on gender are suffocating and cause me distress

Oh I'm just a girl, what's my destiny?
My potential and future is limited by the expectations based on my gender

What I've succumbed to
I have been forced to accept societal limitations and expectations based on my gender

Is making me numb
The expectations and limitations based on my gender are causing me to lose hope and motivation

Oh I'm just a girl, my apologies
I am sorry for not fitting into societal expectations for my gender

What I've become is so burdensome
The limitations and expectations placed on me based on my gender have become too much to bear

Oh I'm just a girl, lucky me
I am sarcastic in saying I am lucky for being held back by societal expectations and limitations based on my gender

Twiddle-dum there's no comparison
The limitations and expectations based on my gender are illogical and unreasonable

Oh, I've had it up to!
I am past my limit for dealing with the limitations and expectations placed on me based on my gender

Oh, I've had it up to!!
I am extremely fed up with societal expectations and limitations based on my gender

Oh, I've had it up to here
I am at my boiling point with the limitations and expectations placed on me based on my gender