Growing up, I was like many girls my age. I wanted to be royalty when I grew up, spending my days wearing pretty dresses and crowns, sipping tea while pointing my pinkie finger ever so elegantly towards the ceiling. But as I grew up, I realized that wasn't an option (we can't all be Kate Middleton unfortunately), I set my eyes on a new path: marine biology. Many boys laughed at me saying girls couldn't do that job because it involved so many "manly responsibilities." Years later the reason I'm not a female Jacques Cousteau and taking the marine world by storm is because, let's face it, I suck at math and it involves an unfortunately overwhelming amount of it. But what is incredibly frustrating is that, for as far as we've come, we still have so far to go. It became increasingly obvious to me when I entered the working world that there is severe inequality between the sexes. I've sat down with coworkers, fellow students, etc. and heard so many stories of harassment, lack of fairness and blatant sexism overall. So why, in 2016, are we still fighting for equal pay and equal respect? Isn't it a little ridiculous that this has yet to become a problem of the past?
I recall, shortly after getting my first job, a female coworker laughing at me when I was appalled that a male coworker made an incredibly crude comment towards me. She said, "Get used to it babe, happens in every single job you'll ever have." She said it so nonchalantly, because it is so much more commonplace than my teenage self knew. Makes you wonder if, by the time our next generation of females are old enough to work, they'll be receiving the same treatment we do.
I currently find myself in an incredibly fortunate place career wise where I'm surrounded by motivational females in higher up positions, women who uplift and help one another, but I'm a part of very lucky, small group. The most interesting example of those who aren't so lucky is in regards to a friend I met back in college. She used to be a "he" and her transformation was beautiful to see, having someone finally fit into their skin before your eyes. However, while chatting one day she mentioned to me that her job atmosphere had changed. She remarked that, having been on both sides, being a male figure and giving advice in the workplace garnered far more attention than being a female. She added that it felt like her voice was just not quite as prominent, much more easily brushed off. When a friend is hurting or sad, your immediate thought is to comfort, but all I could say is "welcome to being a woman." It's not okay, it never will be and I sincerely hope that we continue to progress to a place where equality isn't quite so shocking.
When I was a little girl, all I wanted to be was royalty. Now, all I want to be is equal.
