Being a woman sucks.

From a very young age, the "ideals" of a woman are shoved down our throats by advertisements, social media platforms, magazines and pop culture. We have to be pretty and delicate, quiet and sweet. We need to have sugar and spice and all things nice and we are held to these ridiculous standards.

Then we are over-sexualized, propertied, objectified, played as pawns, victimized, preyed upon and sexually/emotionally abused. And still, we are expected to sit still, look pretty and keep our mouths shut.

Men have been taught they can do whatever they want, whenever they want. It's to be expected AND accepted by both parties.

There is actually an entire market for safety items specifically catered to women.

Rape-preventative undergarments! Roofie testing strips! Untearable pantyhose! Rape whistles! Apps that allow you to hold a button down when you feel unsafe, so we can be sure you make it home okay!

We have to watch what we wear, how we move and what we say because god forbid we give someone the wrong idea. Then it will be all our fault because, hey, "I was wearing a skirt and I asked for it!" Right?

Instead of educating, penalizing or incarcerating the men who belittle women with their acts of sexual and verbal battery, we provide more and more "preventative tips and tricks" for women.

God forbid we hold men accountable for their actions.

The woman is always in the wrong, and god help us all if she speaks up about it.

Didn't you know? Girls aren't supposed to have opinions.

But it doesn't stop there.

If you even utter a word of defiance, you get a big, scarlet F stitched onto your forehead for "Feminist." People look at you as if you've just run over their puppy.

I am not a quiet girl. I don't fit into any of those neat little boxes society has tried to cram us into.

I am loud, I am blunt, I am strong-willed and I am persistent.

I am everything this world tries to convince us we shouldn't be, and let me tell you: People hate it.

I am constantly getting dirty looks, disproving shakes of the head, comments and wide eyes.

I'm always in the direct line of fire for "advice" on how I shouldn't talk too much or how I should keep my opinions to myself. I've been told that I'm "too much" more times than I've been complimented on my free-spirit, pretty smile, sense of humor or ANY OTHER ATTRIBUTE for that matter.

People take one look at me, or rather they hear my mouth open one time, and it's like they instantly want to shut me up. As if they're afraid of my voice and the power it holds.

When did we become so ashamed of our own voices?

I speak out about things that matter to me. I'll admit that I don't put much thought into how many people it may offend that I so willingly (and loudly) do so. I have a voice, and I use it. Whether to point out a flaw, call out a jerk, stand up to right a wrong or to tell my story.

I am 100 percent a voice to be heard, but I am also 100 percent a woman. It's time that the two stop being considered mutually exclusive.