The girlchild is a healthy, naturally strong, and intelligent young woman growing up under the weight of strict gender roles. Though she tests well intellectually and possesses manual dexterity and a robust physical form, she faces constant pressure to fit a narrow, artificial mold. She spends her time trying to reconcile her innate capabilities with the conflicting advice she receives about how to behave, look, and present herself to the world.

The classmate is a peer of the girlchild who introduces external judgment into her life. By zeroing in on specific physical features and framing them as flaws, the classmate acts as an early enforcer of the rigid beauty standards that surround young women in their environment.