ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Whipping Girl

Okay kiddo, so a whipping girl is a term used to describe a situation where somebody gets blamed or punished for something that they didn't actually do.

Let's say you and your friend were playing with your favorite toy, and your little brother comes over and accidentally breaks it. Your friend gets mad and blames you for not keeping an eye on your brother, even though it wasn't your fault. In this situation, you could be considered the "whipping girl" because you're getting punished for something that wasn't your fault.

In some cases, people use the term "whipping girl" to specifically refer to women who are unfairly blamed or punished for things. This happens because, historically, women have often been seen as weak or inferior to men, and therefore more likely to be blamed for problems.

Overall, being a whipping girl is not a good thing, and it's important to try and make sure that people are held accountable for their actions, rather than just blaming whoever happens to be nearby.