Growing up my mom made it her life's mission to make sure I knew how to clean, feed myself, and how to survive as much as possible on my own, but I cannot say I know how to fix a car or that I do not panic when something is wrong with my car because I end up having to call someone... most of the time a guy.

Last Saturday night, with my incredible luck and timing, I ended up getting stuck in a corn field around midnight after a long day of rain. I know, how movie-like, but with my luck it is really not a surprise.

Much like the time I almost crashed after my car came to a dead stop, a dear guy friend came to help me out once again. When he arrived, he also came with two girls from my sorority, one of which suggested we push my car forward to sturdier ground and then reverse since my car is front tire drive.

By this time, a man and his wife stopped to help and although I appreciate it deeply, it did bring something into question. He would suggest things to do and bounce ideas off my guy friend and completely brushed off the idea of my sorority sister.

It may be 2016, and women may be changing the world, but we are still brushed off as if we are less. I grew up with two sisters and no brothers so my parents had to ask us to help and would teach us things that were labeled as "guy" tasks. If my dad had had more time, he would have taught me about cars like he did about tools and building.

Only because we are women, it does not mean we do not know what we are talking about. Yes, I was panicking and not thinking straight, but it was mostly out of fear of having to call my dad; however, there was someone who was not in such a state and was a female who had good ideas and actually came up with the solution.

After almost two hours, several failed attempts and a lot of calls, we got my car out with the help of two cops who helped, shocker, push my car forward and then reverse when it got to sturdier ground.

I never understood my mom's desire to make sure I would know as much as possible about fixing things or coming up with solutions on my own until now. I have never appreciated having a mother who wants nothing more than to raise independent women who do not have to be undermined by a man because we are women and not as "smart" as men.

It is not even about feminism for me, it is about being treated as an intellectual equal or with the respect every human being deserves. It is about not letting little girls grow up believing they are any less than our gender counterpart.

Thank you to all the brilliant women who have changed this world even when they were told to make a sandwich or to just become housewives. Thank you for doing more and showing other women they can do more.