This Comic Is The Best Way To Demonstrate How Wrong “I’m Not Like The Other Girls” Attitude Can Be

Julie Hang has been drawing cartoons since she was a child. There is something else she did when she was young—she alienated herself from others and convinced herself that it was alright because she was “not like the other girls.”

“I was a shy, anxious kid and had a hard time making friends,” Julie says. “Instead of recognizing my anxiety and trying to overcome it, I thought there must be something that separated me from other girls. Reading ‘me vs. other girls’ comics online validated those negative feelings and stereotypes I had towards other girls and made me feel like it was the ‘cool’ thing to do.”

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“I became judgmental and presumptive towards my peers, categorizing other girls into stereotypes before I even got to know them,” the cartoonist said. “I made such a point of staying away from those stereotypes that I didn’t allow myself to experience things that I thought ‘other girls’ were into, including ‘girly’ activities like going shopping, dressing up, and getting my nails done—things that I later found I actually enjoy doing!”

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Luckily, with time, Julie grew not only as an artist but also as a person. She started to realize that piling up bitterness and cynicism couldn’t lead to anything good. “Meeting more people and getting to know them helped open up my worldview, especially when I attended summer camp in high school and later, art school.”

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“It was a blank slate for everyone, which gave me the opportunity to let go of all those categories and stereotypes about ‘other girls’ that I had held onto for so long. So I did just that. What followed could only be described as an epiphany—I had been setting myself apart from the very people I felt I belonged with the most. There was so much I had in common with ‘other girls’! I made lifelong friends from a variety of backgrounds and interests who are bright, hilarious, loving, and kind—girls who are unique in their own way!”

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In retrospect, Julie said that social seclusion really affected her. “When you’re young and still trying to figure out who you are, the one thing you really want is individuality. There are many healthy ways to discover yourself, like joining a club where you can meet people with similar interests. Then there is the ‘I’m not like other girls’ theme online that communicates that you are indeed unique but does so by putting other girls down.”

Still, she managed to rid herself of this way of thinking, and now she has a lot going for her.

Julie graduated from Otis College of Art & Design with a major in Animation, and now she works as a motion designer at Part IV, a digital marketing agency.

When she is not working, she enjoys drawing comics, designing interesting characters, and posting on her Instagram profile.

She also believes that the trend of “relatable” girl comics is improving over time. “In recent years, I’ve felt as though webcomics are headed in a more positive and inclusive direction, with deeper meanings and consideration for their readers, and I’m more than happy to be contributing to that movement,” the artist concluded.

And here’s what people said about this comic and the entire “I’m not like the other girls” idea overall

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