International Women's Day 2021: Choose to Challenge
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We live in a man’s world. There is no denying that. It is something us
women are reminded of every single day. We have to constantly work
and work and work just to try and be taken seriously. Our accomplishments
are viewed as not as impressive as if a man had done them. We are
constantly being judged. Judged on how we act. Judged on what we
say and how we say it. Judged on what we wear. What is it
that Taylor Swift says in her song “The Man?”
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“I'm so sick of running as fast I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker
If I was a man
And I'm so sick of them coming at me again
'Cause if I was a man
Then I'd be the man”
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Yeah...me too girl.
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We are made to feel like we matter less. Made to feel like our opinions, our
thoughts, our ideas don’t matter. I can’t tell you how many times I have been
asked my opinion, provided it, and then was ignored, only to have the MAN
that asked me listen to another man say the same thing. (And then go on
to praise them for such a great idea. *eye roll*)
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We are made to feel like objects put here just for men to ogle and touch
and talk to in whatever way they want. And then we are punished when
we stand up for ourselves and turn down their advances. We are called
names, rumors are spread, job positions and opportunities are lost. All
for what? Because we didn’t want to be sexually harassed? I don’t know
about you, but that seems like a pretty damn good reason to me.
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It may be the 21st century, but there are still so many things that
women cannot do because of the men in this world. I once read this article that
asked women one simple question. What would you do in a world without
men for 24 hours? And you want to know what some of the most popular
answers were? Go for a run with both headphones in. Go for a walk at night.
Walk alone to the car after dark without having to hold keys between
fingers, phone in the other hand, and keeping your head on a constant
swivel. Sleep with windows open in the house. Walk past a construction
site/group of men without having a mild panic attack. Wear whatever we
wanted without being catcalled or looked at inappropriately. And my own
personal answers? Travel alone without having to always be so cautious.
Go to work and actually feel comfortable. Man, what I wouldn't give to have
to no longer deal with men at work openly staring at my chest as I walk
down the hallway. No longer deal with men making comments about my body or constantly
watching my every move. No longer deal with men sending me inappropriate messages on
Facebook and asking my friends for bikini pics or naked pics
of me. Gosh, is that even a possible reality? These are all such simple things
that I guarantee you no man has ever thought twice about.
Talk about a double standard.
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We’ve all been there. We’ve all experienced the inequality and double
standards that come with being a woman in a man’s world. And I don’t
know about you, but I am done allowing this to all go on like there is nothing
wrong with it. I choose to challenge. I choose to stand up for myself without
regret. I choose to never settle and to always go after what I want, never
letting any man make me feel like I am less or that I deserve less. With
challenge comes change and boy, am I ready for a change.
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