Women in all walks of life and all parts of history have always felt a certain pressure from society. Whether that be from other women, men, advisers/bosses, or parents. Pressure does not have to be direct to a certain woman's physical self; it can be a view of the gender that is seen as the "norm" in that day and age. For example any year in history before now women were "meant to be" in the house taking care of children and their husbands. If a woman wanted to and had the opportunity to be a lawyer or doctor it was seen as taboo. I am not bashing the "traditional" family set-up; I am simply stating the facts. Even in the 21st century a woman who decides too not get married, or chooses to not have kids, or they do have kids but chose to artificially inseminate is looked upon as strange.

Times are changing and women are strong and able, always have been. We are not dainty daisies who always need protecting and to be sheltered. No matter what women accomplish there will always be someone standing there waiting to tear her down. Some people can not deal with change or with the fact that just because you are a man does not mean you are better than me or that I will listen to you. I respect those with authority, but you having a penis does not give you automatic authority. For the political woman, like myself, I am constantly looking for women who made the same walk I am trying to make. I want to have my freshly manicure hand in the making of history; I want to be apart of the United States Congress and who knows maybe the white house someday (Vote Southern in 2032).

Though many may not like her, she is still a badass woman. Hilary Clinton, who is currently running for president for those of you living under a rock, would not be my first (or 50th) pick for the first woman president; I do not like her flip-floppiness on issues. Though I will stand up for her against the male dominated political arena. She did well in an early Fox News debate and instead of saying "she did well" the reporter stated "She did very well and debated like a man." Now I know many people will be like "who the hell cares. They complimented her, be happy about that." Well, I refuse to have the female gender be continuously degraded just because men need their superiority to always be upheld, and their "manhood" is too fragile to handle any challenge.

Why can't the we just say she did well in the debate and leave gender out of it? I went to the doctor with my dad a few months ago and his doctor is an older gentleman who up until this point I actually liked. He asked me what I was studying and what I planned on doing after college. I told him I planned on law school and maybe get into politics after awhile. He looked at me and slightly grimaced and told me "Oh honey, women do not make good lawyers and politics is a mans game. You should be a school teacher. Get married and have some kids, you will want to eventually." I slightly smiled and told the old geezer that he clearly does not know what I am capable of and walked out the door. He had not seen my resume. He had not seen my recommendations. He didn't ask for my GPA, my leadership experience, or my view of any issues. All he saw was my gender. He saw me as a woman, not as a person with a bright future or limitless possibilities.

The very moment a girl is born she is given baby dolls and barbies, she is told to "act like a lady," and every compliment is limited to how she looks. Why can't we give our little girls dolls AND monster trucks? Why can't we raise our girls to treat others with respect and not give them certain rules to follow that boys do not? Why instead of complimenting her looks we tell her she is smart? Why dont we build up our girls to be strong leaders in society instead of telling them that when they take charge they are "bossy" ? I have been called bossy my entire life; and it really took a toll on me in middle school. I got called bossy by one of my favorite teachers. Until about 10th grade I would not speak up in class or offer to take on a leadership position in an organization. I did not want to be the bossy girl because "boys don't like bossy girls."

Because of that teacher I learned that nothing would be handed to me and there will always be someone on the other side waiting to tear you down. I graduated high school with an advanced diploma, honors, president of almost every organization at my high school, and I proudly took the stage at graduation to deliver the farewell message to my classmates as Class President. As a freshman at UAH I ran for council of my sorority and was picked for VP of community Service and was blessed to plan a philanthropy event that raised over $9,000. If I had let that comment hold me back I have no idea what would have happened to me and I would not have the opportunities I have now.

I was one of the lucky ones; I had a dad who constantly helped me to break gender constraints. He didn't scald me for acting "unladylike like" he would scald me for being mean or rude. He did not buy me frilly dresses solely because girls are supposed to wear those things. I grew up loving Disney movies and princesses but I was not taught to wait on price charming to come and save me. I was taught to pick up the sword and kill the dragon myself. I may not have had the easiest childhood but that is not a crutch I lean on. Everything that I have been through and everyone that has wronged me are just bricks that I am using to lift myself up. Some women are destroyed by fire, I was built from it. You can only go as far as you believe you can. So instead of breaking each other down lets lift each other up and out the glass ceiling and then turn around and stomp the shit out of it with our red bottom heels so future women can have equal opportunity.

Here's to the strong women, May we know them, may we be them, May we raise them.