Editorial illustration about how to fill in girlhood and how I fought mine.

I feel my gender has been questioned ever since I was a little girl, just because (so I was told) I didn't behave like a girl: I've always felt really uncomfortable in skirts and dresses, and I played rough 'like a boy'. (My mother told me my six year old self was angry at her at some point for making me a girl.)

As a teenager I was told during gym class I was 'strong for a girl' and even as an adult I'm confused about people's surprised reactions when I'm swiftly helping moving furniture or work in the garden.

I have questioned myself (and even my sexuality) for years because I didn't fit the 'girl-girl' profile and that's absolutely ridiculous. There's literally an infinite amount of ways to be a woman, to be female, and now that I see that I can allow myself to be my own woman. And I'll respect her.