Cmns1125 speech 1 NLOGs PDF

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Received 80%, or B+ on this speech.
Professor: Tanya Haye. Final class grade received: A+...

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Name: Trisha Wong Title/Topic: The “Not Like Other Girls” Syndrome Specific Purpose: The audience should come out educated on what the subject is and its problematic effects, as well as be prepared to handle if encountered in person. Central Idea: Everybody expresses their identity in their own way, and that’s okay.

I. INTRODUCTION A. (Attention grabber) Recently, I had the misfortune of meeting someone last term who thought we were best friends, when I didn’t feel the same at all. While I was enthusiastic at first, she dropped a bombshell that changed everything. B. (Introduce topic) The words, “I’m not like other girls. I’ve only been able to be friends with guys, not girls, because they’re all just bitches.” “Why?” I asked, genuinely afraid. “I can just do things with them I can’t with girls!” “...Like what?” “You know, talk about sports, sex, and Marvel movies that isn’t just how hot the actors are.” Did she realize what she was saying to me who, like many other girls, did  all of those things? She believed she was unique for doing things my existence disproved, then painted all “other girls” as all the same “bitches” in one broad stroke, and it was triggering my fight or flight instincts, as well as flashbacks. C. (Credibility statement) Because... that was once me too. I know the very mindset that was fuelling her to say those cursed words all too well. The difference between us, though, was that I realized what I was doing was wrong, and reformed. D. (Relevancy statement) I know everyone in this room is a little insecure about something, so maybe you’ve felt that urge wanting to announce that you’re not like the others- you’re different, special! But do you know how doing that could be harmful or how to stop? This applies to guys too, just in reverse- I’m just talking about girls because I am one. E. (Preview/Thesis) Today, I’ll be introducing you all to the “Not Like Other Girls” Syndrome, which we’ll call NLOG for short, and explaining what it is, why it’s bad, and how to fix it. (Transition) First I’ll explain what they are, so you can spot them.

II. BODY A. An NLOG defines herself by comparing against what she isn’t: a completely made up, cartoonishly stereotyped image she has of a “typical girl” in her head.

a. I was no exception. As a 12-year-old girl, I took pride in wearing only pants, because in my mind, all other girls wore pink dresses; in reading Dan Brown novels, thinking other girls played house; in playing violent video games, thinking other girls thought they were icky and only liked Barbies. b. I compared myself against this imaginary caricature of what I thought all other girls were, and thought I was better than them for being unique. c. In hindsight now, we all know that tons of girls wear pants- far more than the number who wear pink dresses- as well as those other things too. d. It’s outright false to say I was unique for those things. e. I realized this when I made my first female friend who was into the exact same things in middle school, but even more than I was. f. It’s the same for modern NLOG pastimes- watching hours of Netflix, loving chicken nuggets or Disney, liking sports or Marvel movies- these things are normal, but the NLOG believes she’s quirkier and better than “other girls” for it. (Transition) This unjustified arrogance isn’t just cringey, it’s wrong. Let’s now talk about the harmful effects the NLOG mindset has. B. By demonizing their made-up image of other girls and femininity, NLOGs are bringing themselves and other girls down. a. Imagine if instead of being happy I found a female friend who had the same interests as me, I felt threatened, because I was no longer the special girl. b. This is the main problem with the NLOG mindset: it pits girls against each other. c. And it’s all dependent on reinforcing a completely arbitrary definition of femininity being “bad”. d. Half of the world’s 7 billion people are female, with identities as diverse as the other half. e. Everybody expresses their femininity in their own way- and that’s okay! f. Nobody is better or less “girl” than another for it. g. You should celebrate your femininity, you just shouldn’t put others down for theirs. (Transition) So what’s the cure? Now, we’ll go over remedies to NLOG syndrome. C. Ironically, the most effective solution in my experience is to make an NLOG realize that being genuine and supportive is the best way to be special. a. NLOGs are primarily rooted in insecurity- for me, having been bullied for being weird and ugly, I wanted to be cool and special instead. b. But consider the following- both the infectious passion of genuinely liking what you like and supporting all e xpressions of identity would make you… well, unlike the NLOGs. c. In fact, genuine positivity would make you special to most, which is what you want!

III. CONCLUSION A. (Recap) As an ex-NLOG, I do feel ashamed of how I thought my uniqueness- that wasn’t even real- made me better than other girls, which then reinforced a stupid idea of what a girl is or isn’t. And yet I was able to realize being genuine and supportive was the best girl I could be. B. (Memorable ending) My reform was all thanks to meeting that girl who outdid my “NLOG” interests in middle school, seeing her not care about whether it made her special, and just genuinely loving what she did. I’m proud to call her one of my best friends today. I just hope I could have had the same effect on that girl who mistakenly thought we were best friends, or to any of you today....