Opinions are something that everyone has, no matter what gender, race or anything you are. However there are subtle, and not so subtle, differences between how men and women get to express them. This is an age old discussion that I think is entirely misunderstood. Women stating that they have to make their opinions "adorable" or "likable" to be taken seriously, doesn't make them "whiney" or "crazy feminists."

I don't think this should be something that should cause an uproar. Shouldn't we be able to communicate what we're feeling, without the ones that are supposed to be listening assuming that we are attacking them? Jennifer Lawrence talked about that exact thing in Lena Dunham's newsletter when discussing the pay gap between her and her male co-stars in "American Hustle." She talked about how she wasn't upset at Sony for not paying her more, since she could have fought harder for more money. However when wanting to bluntly and plainly discuss her essay with others who worked for her, one of the men in her team treated the issue as over-dramatic on Lawrence's part. Where she responded with the fact that she is "over trying to find the 'adorable' way to state my opinion and still be likable." Which leads to the question: how much do women have to worry about being "likable" when articulating what they are wanting to say?

Don't get me wrong, I am in no way saying that men have this golden path spread before them where employers throw money at them at their beckoning. There are obstacles in the way for everyone, no matter what gender they are or identify with. However I am saying that I haven't heard men being called "bratty," "pushy," "bossy," or whiney" for asking for what they think they deserve. From my personal experience, I can resonate with what Lawrence was talking about in her essay.

I would say that I am a passionate person, and I try to get others passionate about whatever I am talking about. That seems pretty standard across the board. However, even in a professional setting, the feedback I get is along the lines of "cute" or "funny". I've also been told that I come across as too excited and that I have to be toned down. I get it, I'm a 5'2" twenty-year-old and it's a good day for men when someone doesn't think I'm in high school. Feedback is important and I like to take it and improve, but it stings when I know the man who made the same presentation I did is definitely not being told to tone anything down.

Women shouldn't have to be told to tone anything down because of being intimidating. I refuse to do that and I'm never planning on changing how I am because of someone else. I also won't ask for special treatment because of being a woman.

My plan is to be honest and unstoppable with the last thing on my mind being whether or not I'm "likable."