Lately I have been seeing more and more how in today’s society, being a “confident girl” is seen as a negative characteristic. I understand that there is a difference between being cocky and being confident, but there is nothing wrong with being sure of yourself and walking with your head held high.

Usually, the people who comment on confident girls as a bad thing are people who aren't as sure of themselves. Comments can also come from people whose ideals and values are from the 1920s where women were meant to just cook dinner and look pretty. But it is 2016 now where women are slowly climbing the metaphorical ladder where they are being perceived as equals to men. We have a lot to do still as a society, don’t get me wrong, but we’re getting there.

The number one thing you need to know about confidence is that it is not a bad thing. Being comfortable in your own skin, not getting embarrassed and being self-aware are all great characteristics for someone to have. If you’re confident, other people are going to want to feed off your positive energy.

If anyone ever tells you that you are “too confident" or that "boys don't like that," don't even bother to listen. Maybe someone finds you too intimidating because of how you carry yourself, but there are people out there who will find that as a good thing, who will find the fact that you don't wear your insecurities on your sleeve as refreshing.

Why, all of a sudden, am I hearing women being told that they shouldn't act so confident? Why, all of a sudden, are women supposed to pretend to love themselves less in order to accommodate the person next to them? Why is it a bad thing if a girl thinks she looks nice or likes the way her hair is that day and says it out loud?

On the other hand, I have to admit that I am seeing more and more on social media and in the real world how girls and women are learning to love themselves and learning how saying it out loud does not make them a "b*tch." Yet for every woman who learns that loving who she is is not a bad thing, there will be some unfortunate soul out there that will tell her "boys don't like that." But what most people don't realize, is that if you're confident enough to get that response from someone, you probably don't care what people like and you don't live your life for the approval of others.