This week, I'm going to step up on my "feminist soapbox" and tell you every problem that I have with how men treat women. As a disclaimer, this is a major generalization; I have been fortunate enough to have grown up surrounded by men who are seen as progressive, based solely upon the fact that they treat women as their equals.
I'm sure many of you have heard the saying that men are intimidated by strong and independent women - you know, a strong, independent, woman who don't need no man. Now here's a concept to be considered: technically speaking, the only thing women need men for is sperm for reproductive purposes. As a woman, you were given everything that a man has. You have the same number of seconds every day to hustle and make money. You have the same intensity of understanding complex concepts. You have the same opportunities to run a corporation or play football.
Except, in reality, you don't. And as per usual, I'm asking "but why?" Well, because maybe men really are intimidated by strong, independent women, whom again, technically speaking, are all women because we are all capable of doing everything a man can, if not more.
I personally grew up with a mother who was always ready to tell me that she brought me into this world and she could take me right out. Since the beginning of time, (human) females have been the gender to create life. We are praised for giving life, yet when our bodies prepare for this every month and there is no baby to be made, we are essentially shamed for bleeding. We are told it is gross, unnatural, that we become hormonal monsters, are bipolar, irrational, and oh my God, would you even consider someone like that running the God damned United States of America! The horror! (If you would like to hear me further rant, please check out an open discussion that I helped with at my university: "Let's Bloody Talk.")
Men are so appalled by this that women are actually taxed for it! Ever heard of the pink tax? One- forever rolling my eyes at the fact that pink was chosen; way to gender stereotype. Two- what purpose does taxing hold? Seriously, I am genuinely curious as to what taxing nearly half of the general population does. But it doesn't stop at taxing feminine products; women are on average over charged for similar services as men... which is illegal in many places, just as an F.Y.I. It even has a term! Gender price discrimination is the act of charging one gender more for a service than the other, solely based upon the difference in gender. I pay on average $80 for just a haircut (no color, no fancy wash, no extras), and as a woman will not make the same salary at a job as my male counterpart. I would be more okay with paying the tax if I was being paid more to compensate for that loss, but I'm not, so I'm really not okay with it at all. And to any frat-douche who complains about being charged more at parties, clubs, etc, well, my friend, it's a good thing you make more, isn't it?
There's an episode of Boy Meets World where the kids are asked to create a mini world and naturally, Topanga is president and just kicks ass. After briefly describing her world to Mr. Feeny, her teacher, he says "This world of yours seems like quite a peaceful and loving place." Topanga is beaming as she's quick to say "Yes. Especially since we moved all men underground and use them just for breeding." Now the secret to why this would be brilliant can be found towards the top of the article: you are an independent woman who don't need no man. If you want to work a corporate job and drive a beautiful car and have a baby and dog and live the life of Riley without all the added bullshit that having a husband may entail (he can make his own dinner and do his own laundry, I promise), you could do it!
In my 20 years of living, I have noticed that women are more of everything needed in this world. As women, we grow up listening to friends vent and asking for advice, therefore we are more informed when it comes to making decisions. A war is about to break out with a foreign country, what do you do? If I had to venture a guess, I'd assume a room of female politicians would rather talk things out and avoid casualties and extra expenses while men might consider the loss of a few million lives and trillion dollars as the price you have to pay for "peace." Because of our ability to create life, women are often times born with the innate ability to be more loving and compassionate. World hunger would probably be solved pretty damn quick, especially since we wouldn't constantly be at war.
Just like the frat-douche complaining about being charged extra, there are men who complain about the word "feminism," often stating that if it were truly about making the genders equal, then why does it start the same way as female. Are you joking?? If our entire gender hadn't been oppressed for however many centuries we wouldn't even have to have the word!
Lastly, because no gender is better than the other is this, I have a huge favor to ask of all women. Many times we are not taken seriously because we fall short of supporting each other. If men are constantly trash talking and you join in, you are no better than them. Stand in unity with other women. If a man is making fun of another girl's weight, I really don't care if you like her or not, stand up for her! If you like another girl's shoes or purse or boxing gloves, tell her. In a society where men often times overlook a woman's worth, be the difference between supporting them and supporting yourself. Never allow yourself to be part of the problem- always add to the solution. How can we berate men for not treating us well when we struggle to support each other? You don't need no man, but you will always need a mother, sister, cousin, friend, or just a friendly stranger, so please please please always work towards building each other up instead of tearing others down. You gain no persona benefit from doing so.
