20 Things I Love About Being A Woman

Being female isn’t always easy. Women often get the short end of the stick and have to get by in a world that clearly doesn’t favor them. But it’s not all bad. On the days I wish I’d been born a guy, I just remind myself of these things I actually love about being a woman:

1. Red lipstick Ask any woman how she feels when she swipes on some lipstick and she’ll tell you the same thing. I love the way red lipstick makes me feel confident, like I’m ready for anything. This small thing makes me feel so much more like myself.
2. Our complexity I’m sure I’m not the only woman who loves being girly one day and kind of a dude the next day. We’re complex creatures who don’t feel the need to choose between being girly or a tomboy. We can be everything all at once, and we don’t feel compelled to explain it.
3. Our strength I love being a strong, confident woman, and that’s never going to change. Women deal with a lot of stuff on an everyday basis, but rather than tearing us down, it just makes us stronger. We know how to overcome adversity, and we do it well.
4. Our maturity Not that there aren’t plenty of mature guys out there, but women just seem to naturally have a way of navigating even the toughest situations with a level, rational mindset. Sure, we can get emotional at times, but we know how to push past it and let our minds guide us instead of our hearts.
5. Our compassion Maybe it’s a stereotype, but for many women, it’s true that having two X chromosomes just makes you a natural nurturer. Our maternal instincts make us great caretakers for children, friends, and partners alike.
6. Girl talk Is there anything better than girl talk? Probably not. It’s nice to get together with your female friends and talk about everything under the sun, from our deepest secrets to casual gossip. There’s something special about the bond we share with our female friends, and strengthening it through girl talk is one of life’s little pleasures.
7. Being a feminist Some people say that every woman should be a feminist, and in my opinion, it’s definitely true. Guys obviously can (and should) be feminists as well, but it’s truly empowering to stick up for your own gender when you see or experience sexism.
8. Bonding in bathrooms I swear I’ve bonded with more women in bathrooms than anywhere else. There’s something about waiting in line (because there’s always a super long line) or doing your hair and makeup that makes you want to talk to random strangers. By the end of the evening, they feel more like friends than strangers, even if I never see them again.
9. Our ability to plan We’re not afraid to talk or think about the future, especially when it comes to our relationships. We know how to think two steps ahead, which makes it easy for us to plan out our lives. Plenty of men have mastered this, too, but in my experience, women have a special knack for thinking beyond the “right now.”
10. Our willingness to apologize Just like Justin Bieber, we never really think it’s too late to say sorry. We can apologize to people that we’ve hurt and for the mistakes that we’ve made. We don’t think that we’re weak just because we’re admitting that we did something wrong.
11. Our drive Whether we want to ask out that cute guy we met at a party or get that promotion we’ve been dreaming of, we know how to focus in on what we want and go for it. Once we have our eye on something, there’s nothing that can stand in our way.
12. Our self-sufficiency We’ve all been rejected by guys or potential employers, and most of us have been in put in situations where we had to defend ourselves and our actions. But all those trials and tribulations have given us a real talent for standing up for ourselves even when things get tough.
13. Our willingness to cry I love that if we’re sitting in a crowded movie theater, reading a book on the subway, or even just listening to our friends tell a sad story, we have no problem letting the tears flow. Unlike some guys, we’re not scared of looking uncool or too emotional.
14. Our pride We definitely have our pride, and that means that we’ll stick up for our beliefs and thoughts no matter what’s going on or who we’re talking to. Sure, that might get us into some awkward situations, but who cares?
15. Our breakup strategies Every woman knows how to deal with a breakup — in the words of Lorelai Gilmore, you wallow. It’s all about ice cream, sad songs, romantic comedies, and wine. Lots of wine. We know how to take a sad situation, suffer through it, and come out stronger on the other side.
16. Our love/hate relationship with rom-coms One minute, we’re swearing our undying love for rom coms, and the next, we’re super over them and their corniness. They’re a fun guilty pleasure to have, and we’re not ashamed of our mixed feelings for them.
17. Our girly indulgences There’s no greater feeling than a pedicure, a new pair of boots, that perfect dress for an upcoming event, or replacing our entire make-up collection.
18. Our ability to vent When we talk about first dates, it’s like we’re united in our collective disappointment and disbelief that things could be this boring, awkward, or creepy. We know how to let it all out when it comes to our personal problems, and best of all, we also know how to listen when another woman needs to do the same.
19. Our bond over hair hatred It’s a universal law of being a woman that no matter what kind of hair we were given, from curly to straight to wavy, we’re never cool with it. It’s amazing how much time we can spend talking about this, even with complete strangers.
20. Our survival skills From bad cramps, to street harassment, to everything in between, I love that at the end of the day, being a woman means being able to get through it. It may not be easy, but I wouldn’t trade being female for anything in the world.