To say the least, my intro to political science class is quite amusing. I tend to sit back and let people bicker about political corruption and who should have won, but one day something brought me to the edge of my seat. To be frank, I don't consider myself someone who identifies with one side or the other, but I do believe in equality for everyone.

So, to hear the girl behind me say "women belong in the kitchen and nowhere else'" was something that shook me to my core, but to have most of the class agree, well that was something that raised the hair on the back of my neck.

People have the right to their opinion, it is in the Constitution. However, on that Monday afternoon, I became nauseous and appalled by a fellow woman who believes that we as women should just sit back. Doesn't that just send us back a hundred years? I understand that some women aren't made for certain positions and don't view themselves equally to men. But grouping all women into this one category is not the way to do it. Especially when women are still trying to be seen as equals.

It is a law that all people are created equal, even though at the time it was created it wasn't really meant for that purpose. However, in the twenty-first century, it is. Growing up, I was raised on the principle that I can be strong and determined and do anything I want to do as long as I put my mind to it and work hard. The sky's the limit, no glass ceiling. The only one who could hold me back is myself.

I didn't become aware of the oppression of individuals until I was older and realized that in some cases, you need to work harder because some people want to hold others down. People call it a man's world, but we choose to believe it or not. We decide to put meaning to a notion or let it just fade away.

There are wage gaps, lack of women in certain fields like medical professions, CEO positions, news media, and cinematic higher held positions. But these professions are not without women. Women are strong and can go toe to toe with anyone if they worked hard enough and believe in themselves and take advantage of the opportunity. I am not calling women more hardworking than men or saying they are lazier than them, but we can put our minds to anything we do and work just as well.

Women need to get past the stigmas that are put upon us. Or even better, just laugh at them and do something proactive. Women need to write more movies for women, women need to interview more women climbing the corporate ladder, women empowering women is a good place to start and not bringing men down in the process. Maybe even helping them too. Working together, as equals, means oppressing no one.

While everyone may not consider themselves a feminist, that doesn't mean they are against equality, and if someone does consider themselves a feminist that doesn't mean they are against men. I just mean we all have different kinds of ways to express our opinions. However, why should any of them be oppressive?

I am not calling to action a march on Washington or suggesting you hide behind your man, and I am definitely not stirring up anything political, because if you haven't guessed this isn't that type of article.

All I am trying to say to the ignorant girl who constantly and thoughtlessly kicks my chair in political science, and to those who agreed with her, if you want to stay in the kitchen, more power to you, just don't try to keep all women there, because not all women want that. Instead of tearing people down, build women up, built men up, build everyone up.

But definitely don't send all of us back to the dark ages. Or I will really have a bone to pick with you.