We've all heard the expression, "Boys will be boys," but my question is why can't girls be girls? Girls get penalized for nearly everything they do. Even when they aren't being criticized, they are being misrepresented and hidden in the shadow of their male counterparts.
News flash people, Girls can be great and powerful and strong all on their own! There's just as many women making big changes in how society works these days, but they hardly get the representation they deserve.
Just for one example, think of Michelle Obama. She has changed the way women view themselves, and hopefully is on her way to changing how men view women as well. She has changed the face of poise and feminism in this country, and in the world. Of course, she is the president's wife, but she is much more than that. She is a strong and independent leader on her own. Every woman is much more than the man who stands next to her.
Women work hard to get to where they want to be in their lives, often times harder than men. A study in 2013 by the Ponemon Institute actually found that women do work harder than men (explained by Elise Ackerman in "Superiority of Female Workers Confirmed: Study Finds Women Really Do Work Longer And Harder Than Men"). The reason so many women have to work harder is because they are regularly diminished or demeaned for their work.
Demeaning jokes such as the idea that women belong in the kitchen should be a thing of the far past because women can now do the same work that men do, and then some. However, these cruel and annoying remarks still haunt many women. Women are still not treated equally and many men think they are still superior (don't even get me started on the 75 cents for every $1 argument).
Not only are women working hard for less, but they also get less recognition for their accomplishments. In recent Olympic news, a headline read, "Wife of a Bears’ lineman wins a bronze medal today in Rio Olympics." Why couldn't this article say "Husband of an Olympic bronze recipient bows at her feet?" That wasn't the only time that happened in these Olympics either. "Female Olympic athletes can break records, win gold … and still be described in terms of who their husbands" discusses more of these instances, where one of them even refers to a swimmer's husband as the "man responsible."
If that man was responsible for his wife's success, it would be his success, and he would be the one breaking world records. The women who are extremely successful in the Olympics are especially strong, and they don't all get the acknowledgment they deserve. These athletes don't even get proper funding. Women get less funding than men do for the Olympics, which means their potential is possibly being limited because of a lack of funds. Women who are working their butts off deserve to be known worldwide. They provide role models for young girls, and should be held at the highest accord.
Maybe people are jealous of these women achieving a dream that is only attained by a select few in the world, and that's why they don't get the recognition they deserve, that's fine. But that doesn't explain why women are not allowed, by society's moral standards, to do things they were naturally made to do, such as breastfeeding or being a mother. Women are constantly shamed for breastfeeding. Breasts have been so over-sexualized that seeing them used for what they are intended for is viewed as wrong, inappropriate, crude, etc.
The double standard is beyond belief here because if a man was walking around half-naked, he would be praised and swooned over, and would break the Internet with his insane hotness. But when a woman is feeding her child, it is an offensive sight that other mothers cover their children's eyes from. Another big issue is young mothers. Many times young or teen moms get a negative connotation because they made a mistake (or a choice) and ended up with a baby at a young age. However, this woman is raising her child and taking on the responsibility it takes to be a mother, even if she is a little young.
Being a woman in the world today is a lot of hard work. Most times women fight and work as hard as they possibly can, and still don't get the appreciation and equality they deserve. Even some fellow women tend to judge others and put them down. As a young women with a long future living in a society like this, I especially believe that women should stand as a united force to continue working towards full equality and understanding.
Let's face it, women are a force to be reckoned with. There are so many strong women in my life that have helped to bring me to where I am today, and I've learned that we have a long way to go. Little girls growing up today deserve a future where their goals and achievements are valid and appreciated. Let girls be girls, and let them have the same chances at greatness.
