It’s the girls, and we think there are some things about us that you need to understand.

First of all, we are not all basic. We know many of you think of us as b*tches who spend our mornings covering ourselves in makeup and weekend nights drinking. However, there is much more to every girl than just leggings and mascara.

Being generalized as ‘weak’ is one of the worst things to live with. This stereotype originates from the early roots of humanity, when women were seen as the ones who were meant to have babies and stay at home. Today, we have women running for president and leading protests around the country. Still, we constantly feel like guys are trying to express the idea that men are better—stronger—than women when, in reality, we should be treated as equals.

Some girls like to wear dresses, some like to wear leggings, some like to wear jeans and some like to wear skirts. This does not mean we are dressing to please you—we can want to look nice for ourselves.

When we get upset, it’s not just because we are overreacting, or because it’s “that time of the month.” Most women are more in touch with their feelings than men are, so when things hit us, they hit us hard. When we’re in tough emotional situations, things can sometimes end in tears or breakdowns.

Also know that, when girls call themselves feminists, it doesn’t mean they think they are better than guys, it means they want equality for all genders. When you shame someone for being a feminist, you’re speaking against equality, not misandry.

If you’re intending to pursue us as soon as you meet us you’re not starting off well. Sure, girls like to be impressed, but not if your motive is to get with us. We like having guy friends, and if you’re concerned about the “friend zone” know that being friends with a girl first normally leads to a better relationship.

Periods are the monthly discharge of blood from the uterus. During this process women experience a menagerie of hormonal and physical health effects such as acne, joint and muscle pain, upset stomach and constipation. We have the right to complain. We’re not sorry if it’s annoying or “gross”  to you because it sucks and we have to deal with it every single month until we’re about 50.

Boys, hopefully I provided some kind of understanding, because after all you’ll need to understand your future boss and hopefully the next president.

Just to be clear, some of the boys would like to cover a few things to explain how boys feel when around you.

Number 1, you all are probably wondering why we come off as having an Alpha male persona. This is because boys, in general, are raised like programmed beings without emotional freedom. According to Claire Cain Miller’s op/ed in the New York Times {How to Raise a Feminist Son} “Even as we’ve given girls more choices for the roles they play, boys’ worlds are still confined, social scientists say. They’re discouraged from having interests that are considered feminine. They’re told to be tough at all costs.”

Girls are often told how many possibilities they have as individuals – they can be or do whatever it is that they please. Boys aren’t raised the same. Have you ever found it interesting that toddlers, boy or girl, cry equally as much? Yet, when they reach a young age and know their gender roles, it’s suddenly taboo for us?

Number 2, high school is just as socially difficult for us as it is for you.

From a personal standpoint, I came from a middle school that only had 30 students in our grade, of which 10 were girls. Coming to Sequoia freshman year was no easy task, because most of my middle school peers went to different high schools. Talking to girls was very difficult; I didn’t know how I was being perceived or who they wanted me to be, and I still don’t know. I always find myself acting like someone that I’m not. My point being, I came across as the nice guy, and I found that girls weren’t attracted to me. Now I find myself being someone who I don’t like.

So girls, here’s a few pointers on how to understand guys’ actions the next time you’re around us. Most of the time when we’re talking to you, we’re trying to impress you. It’s not because we inherently want to, but it’s how we’ve been taught to act as we’ve grown up. More importantly, just ignore us most of the time when our hormones go crazy.

Just remember that even though we don’t cry, we still have emotions. Guys often think that girls are mad at guys because we have no emotional connection to a certain topic but this entirely untrue. If we show our emotions, in some respect, it’s a sign of weakness and it’s something that guys really don’t do.