Every day that passes, I get more and more frustrated with what’s going on out in the world. The women’s strike was last week and as you could imagine, there was backlash and condescending questioning of what the point was and if anything was actually accomplished.
Growing up, it was me and my two brothers. I grew up with parent’s who were old fashioned in the sense where women stay at home and men go out and work. I was raised to be the “girl of the house” helping my mom with chores while my brothers played their video games. Being in a house with brothers, I made it very clear that it’s all or none of us that will do the chores, and I fought against the double standard up until I moved out.
My parents lightened up when I left for college, but their old school mindset and traditional ways got the best of them sometimes. My dad told me recently that he raised me like that so I can grow up to be a “tough cookie”. I can’t tell if he was sincere or if he was making up excuses. Whatever the case, I was surrounded by the double standard, and fought tooth and nail to be acknowledged as an equal.
Since I was five, I’ve been conscious of double standards and sexism, and while my stories and memories are nothing compared to what other women have dealt with, I still fight for equality and against the double standard. Things need to change, and everyone who speaks up can make a difference.
With that said, from my personal experiences, this is why I strike:
☞ I’ve had my appearance judged a countless amount of times for not being feminine enough.
☞ I’ve been told men don’t like girls with glasses, as if I only exist to get guys to like me.
☞ I’ve been told that I can’t be taken seriously because I’m a “cute girl”.
☞ I’ve been called anorexic.
☞ I’ve been told that “the kitchen looks good on me”.
☞ I’ve been called a lesbian when I turned guys down.
☞ My distant family perceived me as less educated than my brothers and felt it was justified because I’m a girl.
☞ I’m surrounded at work by men who believe women are only made to marry young, pop out children, and tend to the home.
☞ Men at work save pictures such as this on the public drive for all to see:
☞ I’ve been told I should wear cherry red lipstick and high heels because it’ll make me more attractive.
☞ I’ve witnessed men on the train snap pictures of girls crotches in “secret”. Just gross.
☞ I’ve had people feel the need to “protect” me at rock and metal shows because I’m a girl.
☞ I’ve been told women work better in customer service rather than working in anything that even resembles manual labor.
☞ I’ve heard so many times that “women aren’t funny”.
☞ I’ve been told playing music is a man’s world, especially the hard rock and metal scene.
☞ I’m surrounded by men who refer to women as “G’s” instead of acknowleging women by their names or gender.
☞ I’ve heard way too much about ex-girlfriends being crazy which was guys’ justification of the break up.
☞ I’ve had my bra strap pulled and snapped back by a coworker because he’s done it to his sister and thought it was funny.
☞ I’ve been told women are the weaker sex.
☞ I’ve exchanged words with men who still view women as objects and not people.
☞ I’ve conversed with men who think women are disposable.
☞ I still hear words, music, and other “entertaining” sources that are degrading to women.
☞ I’m still surrounded by sexism and misogyny everywhere I go.
Aside from my list, I also strike because of:
gender inequality, racism, sexism, misogny, bigotry, homophobia, islamaphobia, antisemitism, transphobia, religious persecution, xenophobia, hatred, hysteria, etc.
A good chunk of the country praised Trump for his ability to not be politically correct because this country has gotten “weak”. People talked about how he said what everyone was thinking. There’s a reason why being politically correct is important. Because once you start ignoring what you shouldn’t say, that’s when hateful jargon comes into play and people are getting hurt because people are too stupid to realize that their actions will effect others permamently. And this is one recent example. It’s a shame that it has gotten to this point.
My final point to everyone: keep fighting.
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