My Gen X Playlist: I’m Just a Girl – No Doubt

We left a tough client meeting. The client was brutal. Asking tough questions, demanding, upset at different moments during the meeting. She drove the meeting hard. We barely survived. As we loaded into the car, I muttered a few words under my breath. What a bitch.

I was about thirty at the time. The consulting team I worked on was made up of all women and me. A teammate responded, What would you say if she were a man? Would you call him a good businessman? I froze in my tracks. She called me out and it made me think about how wrong my comment really was. I apologized, admitted my lack of awareness and felt like an idiot. The ladies gave me a pass and said this was part of my sensitivity training and my future wife would someday thank them.

Over the years I really benefited from being the only male on the team. I learned that I took a lot for granted and there were so many things women had to deal with that men never gave a second thought. It was eye opening.

Also during this time, we got a new office President. She was accomplished and transferred in from the Chicago corporate office. I remember meeting with her and seeing a picture of her and a younger man on her desk. A colleague innocently asked, Is that your son? She frowned and replied, No, that’s my husband. Later, I heard a few snickering comments about their age difference. My sensitivity training kicked in and I asked, Would you make a similar comment if she were a man? Damn, I even surprised myself.

No Doubt is home grown Orange County, California. Just a Girl was written by Gwen Stefani after she became the last original band member.

“Just A Girl” was written by Gwen Stefani after her brother Eric, No Doubt’s primary songwriter up to then, left the band. She wrote it when she was frustrated with her father for being overprotective of her while Eric got free rein. “I wouldn’t trade being female for anything, but the guys don’t understand what a burden it can be sometimes,” she explained.

Songfacts

She’s right. We seriously don’t have a clue. I’m thankful for my sensitivity training years ago, but know it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I'm exposed and it's no big surprise
Don't you think I know exactly where I stand?
This world is forcing me to hold your hand

'Cause I'm just a girl, oh, little old me
Well, don't let me out of your sight
Oh, I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don't let me have any rights

Oh, I've had it up to here

The moment that I step outside
So many reasons for me to run and hide
I can't do the little things I hold so dear
'Cause it's all those little things that I fear

'Cause I'm just a girl, I'd rather not be
'Cause they won't let me drive late at night
Oh, I'm just a girl, guess I'm some kind of freak
'Cause they all sit and stare with their eyes
Oh, I'm just a girl, take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype

Oh, I've had it up to here

Oh, am I making myself clear?

I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl in the world
That's all that you'll let me be

Oh, I'm just a girl living in captivity
Your rule of thumb makes me worrisome
Oh, I'm just a girl, what's my destiny?
What I've succumbed to is making me numb

Oh, I'm just a girl, my apologies
What I've become is so burdensome
Oh, I'm just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum, there's no comparison

Oh, I've had it up to
Oh, I've had it up to
Oh, I've had it up to here