Men, you've all heard this somewhere in life. Whether it was a father, father-figure, or your favorite NFL player modeling what it means to be a man and how to treat a woman. I understand not all men treat women like disposable objects only useful for a body count. In no way, shape, or form in this article am I going to suggest women are perfect and treat all men equally fair; we don't. But right now we're talking about the boys. That's right: the boys. Different, unfortunately, from the men.
In a heated class debate recently, someone shouted, "you know what I believe? You boys gotta learn to be men right quick, because you're in college, and do your Mamas know about what you do or say half the time?" Think about that, boys. Does Mama know what you're up to? Would you want another man to treat your sister the same way you and your friends look at, degrade, or objectify women?
As women, we can shrug off cat calls, turn the other cheek at disgusting pick-up lines, hold our heads high, but our power can only go so far. I believe a lot of adult boys out there might need some help wising up. So listen up, straighten up, and man up because we're going over a few ways to treat women right. Ladies, take notes, too, because you deserve nothing less than this.
I firmly believe, with the help of our fellow men, women deserve:
1. To feel beautiful
I don't need to reiterate what the thousands of beauty and self-confidence campaigns out there say. Every. single. size, shape, personality, religion, ethnicity, and color of woman is PERFECT. Empower the women around you by helping them feel beautiful, both inside and out.
2. To eat all they freaking want and have no shame
If I want Chipotle for all three meals of the day you're damn right imma have 3 burrito bowls with side tortillas (and extra salsa, please!) If all I have time for is ice cream for dinner, you know what's for dinner? I'm not making you a sandwich, nope, I'm eating ice cream. If we make a meal at midnight, cheer us on. Can we eat more than you? Sometimes, but it's a sexy quality so deal with it. *takes bite from 4th bowl of cereal*
3. To feel safe
If you take nothing else from this article, TAKE THIS WITH YOU BEFORE YOU GO, please. If you see a stranger, your mother, sister, friend, ex-girlfriend, your roommates ex-girlfriend - any woman - who is not in a safe environment, relationship, or situation, help her get out. Every woman deserves to be able to live her life without the memory of a time she was not safe, or without the fear that something or someone harmful might come into her life again. Can I get an Amen, Men?
4. To be strong
What does "like a girl" mean to you, boys? It should mean run or fight like hell, throw farther, jump higher. If a woman wants to lift, let her lift. Don't stare at her butt or compliment her 172 times while she's trying to concentrate on getting healthy (or swole). She's not wearing the Nike spandex for you, nuh-uh, it's for herself.
5. To move on
If a woman wants to move on, let her. Maybe she needs to stop talking about a job that let her go, or that top choice University she got denied from. Maybe she broke up with you (or vice versa) and she's doing her thing; happy or sad, you gotta do you and it can't always involve her. Women deserve to just live and let learn sometimes, its healthy.
6. To be respected
This includes NEVER hearing the word slut, or anything similar to it. Respect a woman in your words, actions, and manners. There's nothing wrong with old-fashioned chivalry.The right women are going to have a better respect for you when you have a better respect for them. Contrary to popular belief, we don't understand nor do we like having sloppy drunk boys trying to play their game on us.
7. To be treated intelligently
The best thing literature, and author Kathyrn Stockett, taught me as a woman: "You is smart, you is kind, you is important." Ladies, you are smart! Men, don't ever try to make a woman downplay her academic value because you might feel inferior. If she plays dumb to try being cute, don't let her. The strongest women I know are also the most intelligent ones I know; they have a lot to share with this world and it shouldn't be condemned.
8. To be valued
As a woman, I should know my worth. A really great man taught me that. Actually, it was my Dad that gave me the wise words of Rocky: "If you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth." Tell a women she deserves all good things, because she does. She deserves to be treated with value, as a teacher, or a mother, a hero, an artist, a doctor, a daughter... whatever she is, let her know her worth and makes sure she receives in return what she is worth (or more).
9. To have a right
A right to education. To equal pay. To not wear a bra, for crying out loud. To be the spouse who goes to work while you're the stay at home dad. To have a man make her a sandwich. To say no. To say yes. To not be scrutinized under the telescope of male dominance. To walk down the street without getting honked at. To go to a bar with her girlfriends without getting played. Etcetera.
10. To be as WOMAN as we want.
I'm a woman, I eat as much as I need to fuel my constant emotions. I walk with a purpose, and if something or someone gets in my way I deal with it like a woman and keep moving forward. I put on make-up because I want to, not because I'm trying to impress a man. I refuse to let a man tell me what I should eat, wear, do, believe, say, practice, or preach no matter my relationship, or lack thereof, with him. Why? Because I'm a woman. If we are too woman for you, then you aren't man enough for us yet.
