This week, I really wanted to focus on people criticizing Gabby Douglas' hair during the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. But, I feel like there are more topics I can cover about women in general. So, this article will focus on silencing the men and sometimes even other women, who try to generalize, sexualize, belittle, degrade and talk down to us. We are not objects, nor toys. We are human beings who have the right to do whatever we please without your opinion. No one has the right to tell us what to wear, how to act and how to speak.

1. Makeup

Makeup empowers women in ways that a lot of people don't understand, but let's make one thing clear, we do not wear makeup for men, or anyone else for that matter.

WE WEAR MAKEUP FOR OURSELVES.

We could care less about what you think, your opinion or your comments. So do not assume that a woman is ugly or unattractive because she wears a lot of makeup. Do not say "Why should I have to look at some chick's zits?" Mr. Bo Dietl. Why should we have to look at your non-existent hairline and unplucked eyebrows on TV? Sorry, not sorry.

How dare you say this about women and think it's OK. Do you know what it feels like to constantly have the world tell you what you should and shouldn't look like? Do you know what it feels like to be told that you aren't beautiful because you aren't up to someone's standards? Do you know what it feels like to be so insecure that you hate yourself for looking the way you do? I advise you to think before you speak and to check your male privilege at the door. All women are beautiful with or without makeup.

News flash, many makeup products have some sort of SPF protection because some women can't put sunscreen on their face. Some women simply want to even out their skin tone, especially if dark circles appear around her eyes from studying all night for her intermediate accounting exam! If you bash anyone for wearing makeup, then you're a part of the problem. If you wear minimal makeup and make fun of women for wearing a full face, then you're a part of the problem.

2. Gabby Douglas

Everyone should know who Gabby Douglas is. She's an amazing gymnast who has helped the U.S. win gold since 2011. She's doing things that women twice her age wish they could have done. Shoot, she's doing something I wish I had the talent to do. You'd think people would give her praise for her accomplishments and victories. You'd think people would be proud to have a black women at the Olympics on national television representing a country we are oppressed in and breaking boundaries.

Instead, you have a community that bashes her for her hair. The sad part is that it's mainly black women who are speaking so rudely about Gabby. Listed are a few quotes I came across:

"Why is Gabby Douglas' hair still not combed?" -@xotailand_

"Gabby Douglas definitely coulda got her hair done...." -@_ShesKimberly

"Gabby Douglas' edges are straight disrespectful man who is her hair stylist?" -@saynotwotimes

As black women, we should be uplifting one another, not bashing each other on social media. If we belittle each other and bully one another over something the dominate culture has been oppressing us for, then we have failed our ancestors. They didn't fight, pray and die for us to act like this. This is not how they hoped we'd be raised to speak to one another. This is a shame.

Gabby Douglas is breaking boundaries for women in the Olympics and proving that anyone of any gender and age can do whatever they work for and still win. As a gender, black women already have to work ten times as hard just to achieve half of what the dominate culture has. Dear black women, please stop with this nonsense. If you don't see why women of color participating in the Olympics is important, then you're a part of the problem. If all you do is bash women for pursuing their dreams, then you're a part of the problem. If you sit around and watch people bash women for pursuing their dreams without saying anything, then you're a part of the problem.

3. Sexual harassment/assault

STOP BLAMING THE WOMAN! That's it, just stop. Something like this shouldn't have to be explained. In a courtroom the judge shouldn't ask me what I was wearing. My male companions shouldn't shrug and say, "You shouldn't have worn that dress." MY RAPIST SHOULDN'T SMILE AT ME IN A COURT BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT HE'S WINNING THE CASE! No means no, period.

"If I am laying down with a man - butt naked - and his condom is on, and I say 'You know what? No. I don't want to do this. I changed my mind,' That means no. That means f-ing no. That's it." - Amber Rose

Please, stop victim blaming. No one leaves the house saying, "I want to get raped today," or "I want to be sexually harassed today." These are ridiculous accusations and anyone who thinks like this should be ashamed. You don't know what it feels like to run home because the guys at the corner of your block won't leave you alone. You don't know what it feels like to be told in school that you're a distraction because of what you're wearing and your body type. You don't know what it feels like to be a 12-year-old and have a grown man come up to you say, "I don't care how old you are, I'd still take you home with me." (Yes, some low life old man said this me when I was walking to the store.) You don't know what it feels like to be scared for your life on New York transit because you and a man who won't stop staring and walking closer to you are the only two on the train late at night. You don't know what it feels like to be a victim in this case. If you did or said anything that I just mentioned, YOU ARE THE PROBLEM!

4. Stereotypes

Just to be clear, women can be just as successful, powerful, self driven, motivated, intelligent, wise, athletic and confident as men. But, you rarely hear anyone call a man "conceited" for being too confident. You never hear anyone call a man "too independent" for being successful. You rarely hear anyone call a man "intimidating" for being self driven and having goals. You never hear anyone call a man "selfish" for pursuing an education to bettering themselves. You don't usually hear anyone call a man "too much" for being athletic.

What you do hear is men calling women selfish for choosing their education over having a family too early. You do hear men call a woman "too intimidating" because she's determined to pay her bills and put food on the table. You do hear men call a woman "too independent" because she makes her own money and doesn't need anyone to take care of her (especially if she makes more money). Why are men allowed to do whatever they please, but women are viewed negatively when they do the same?

Don't believe anything I just said? Then explain the wage gap between men and women. While you're at it, explain the wage gap between women of different races as well. Explain pink taxes too. Then read about the four waves of feminism. The point is, these stereotypes are true and active in our communities. They're ridiculous, judgmental and petty. My menstrual cycle does not determine my mood or my actions. The way my hair looks does not determine how I "keep up with myself." The amount of money I spend on makeup doesn't mean I'm insecure. The way I wear my hair, makeup and clothes doesn't mean I'm "asking for it" or a whore. Stop with the stereotypes, because you look ridiculous and sound stupid when you speak.

Dear Women,

We are beautiful, intricate, authentic, powerful, expressive and self-motivated individuals who don't get enough credit for half of the things we do in life. Literally, for years we weren't appreciated and belittled for the simplest things. At one point we weren't even allowed to vote. Please don't let anyone stop your grind. Don't allow anyone to tell you what to wear or how to eat. WEAR AS MUCH MAKEUP AS YOU WANT TO, the critics are just mad because their eyebrows aren't fleeky, like yours.

Do whatever makes you proud and a better woman. Break every boundary they said you couldn't reach and if you can do it in 6-inch heels then that's even better. Please remember that there's a smaller generation of girls who are watching us. Everything we do, everything we say, all of our accomplishments are being watched and admired by something precious. We are more than what men and the media say we are. We are queens who will not be denied our thrones.