Guest Post: "Shit Girls Say"

The YouTube episodes that relate to “Shit Girls Say” are undoubtedly comical; however, shielded by the laughs are a few negative stereotypes concerning women which are embedded in these videos. Graydon Sheppard, the man who demonstrates “what women say”, portrays women as dumb airheads who do not have meaningful conversations, but instead prefer to make simple-minded or substance-lacking comments.

For instance, in the first episode, Sheppard asks, “Do you know anything about computers?”, and even imitates women forgetting such routine things as locking the door. Women are also displayed as needy as Sheppard constantly asks for favors from others or second opinions on things that are relatively simple decisions. Additionally, women are not only seen as overly dramatic which is depicted in the first episode when two females scream incessantly and hug for an extended amount of time upon reuniting, but they are portrayed as unintelligent as Sheppard and another woman spend a significant length of time complementing each other back and forth by repeatedly saying, “You’re the best!” They then proceed to speak relentlessly about seemingly petty issues, yet neither listens to the other’s statements.

Moreover, the second episode depicts a woman who is attempting to convey her feelings and thoughts on the relevant matter by merely saying, “I’m just like (ughhhh).” As this YouTube set has been produced by two males, it is evident that negative stereotypes are held towards women which serve to keep them on a lesser pedestal than men as it is clear that society thinks of women as incompetent, incapable, and unproductive human beings. Moreover, “Shit Girls Say” may be related to Hilary M. Lip’s “Women, Education, and Economic Participation,” which speaks of many institutionalized realities that have been implemented to reinforce these negative stereotypes. Years ago, women were unable to access higher education because science was considered to be unsuitable for females to learn. Edward Clarke, an American Educator, continued to argue that women’s brains were immature and unqualified for the higher education context and that if they used too much energy to think then little energy will be available for reproductive purposes. This discriminant thinking has helped promote the negative stereotypes that regard women as incompetent, incapable, and less human than men.

- Alexandra Carter