On Being a Lady

By Abbie King
It has come to my attention that manners and etiquette as a whole are recently being pushed to the wayside. More specifically, though, I have observed the etiquette and poise young ladies once carried themselves with is being continuously disregarded. Although I do understand that some girls don’t want to appease sexism by falling into the stereotype of a “girl,” I believe there is a huge difference between a girl and a lady. A girl cares what others think. A girl lets others influence her decisions. A girl fits the stereotype.
But there is a certain magic to a lady. A lady thinks for herself. She places her napkin in her lap, chews food and chewing gum with her mouth closed, and knows when it is and is not acceptable to swear. A lady knows when to speak and when to listen. She is aware of the social situation she is in and knows how to conduct herself. Being ladylike is more than just please and thank-you’s. It is knowing not to degrade yourself, knowing what you are worth. Girls these days, due to media and society’s standards, are unaware of how truly special they are, and a disturbing amount sell themselves short, whether it be concerning boys, their peers, or their occupation. “Keep it classy,” is right. Less is more. Boys don’t deserve to know all of your secrets on the first date. Acting less intelligent than you are, believe it or not, isn’t appealing to a guy. You are worth more than what you think, so don’t let any boy or model or celebrity or clothing line make you think otherwise. Who you surround yourself with is who you becoming, so choose carefully. I am not suggesting we erase 50 years of feminism, but rather, we add a little class to what we’ve accomplished thus far.
As Marie from the Aristocats says, “I’m a lady.”