I Am A Woman. I Am Strong.
Start writing a post
Politics

I Am A Woman. I Am Strong.

Never be afraid to be who you are.

165
I Am A Woman. I Am Strong.
Crossfit Fever / Flickr

I am a woman. I am strong.

Say it with me, I am a woman and I am strong.

I am a strong woman because I am unapologetically, fiercely and wholeheartedly myself.

I like what I like, regardless of the gender we’ve attached to it.

I am not afraid to voice my love for video games, or game with the bros and be critisized for not doing female things.

I am not afraid to play house or with barbies and be considered "girly" for doing so.

I can run around with boys and not worry about being criticized for it.

I’m not afraid to love football, even though I know people will assume it’s to impress a guy.

I am not afraid to take a shop class because it's only for strong guys, I can be just as successful as any guy.

I am not afraid to take a home ec class that is sexualized towards my own gender. I am strong enough to know that the kitchen is not where I "belong."

I am not afraid to prove the stereotype that girls are bad at math wrong.

I am not afraid to love Barbie or makeup, even though you’ll typecast me as a “girly girl,” consider me frail and weak for liking something society has deemed “feminine.”

I am not afraid to wear makeup, even though you will call me fake.

I am not afraid to not wear makeup, because I know my own worth and beauty and do not need someone else validation.

Being a strong woman means I ask for what I believe I deserve, even though I’ll be called selfish and impatient.

It means fighting for the right to exercise a basic freedom, while male counterparts chastise me for it.

It means standing up for what I believe is right, no matter who decides to judge or shame me for it.

It means wearing a short skirt and a low-cut top because I feel beautiful in both, knowing full well I’ll be slut-shamed for it.

It means wearing a conservative turtleneck and slacks, even though people will call me a prude and a goodie-goodie.

It means I have the right to choose whether or not I want to drink, not just because some guy buys me a drink without my permission expecting me to drink it.

It means refusing to apologize for having a voice and using it, even though I know I’ll be called cold or cruel or even a bitch.

It means speaking up about the sexual assault I’ve survived, even though I know there will be people who won’t believe me or tell me that it's my fault.

It means choosing to put myself through an examination, even though rape kits are backlogged and convictions are few and far between.

It means speaking on the behalf of other women who are too afraid to come forward about their assaults because I am strong enough to not be afraid of the shame that society will throw at me.

Being a strong woman means loving myself when the rest of society says I’m too big or too skinny or too dark or too tall or too short or too much or too little.

It means accepting others no matter how different they may come across, because inside, we are all the same.

It means owning my sexuality and using it when I see fit, how I see fit and because I see fit, despite knowing people will judge me for it.

It means refusing to list the reasons why I don’t want children at all, because what happens in and around my uterus is no one else’s business but my own.

Being a strong woman means deciding not to get married, even though I know my friends and family won’t understand why.

It means deciding to get married and proudly immersing myself in tradition because I shouldn’t change what I want in order to somehow prove that I am independent or self-sufficient.

It means not apologizing for having needs and voicing them, even though I know I’ll be viewed as clingy or emotional or annoyingly dependent.

It means not being afraid to love because some man already broke my heart.

It means I am comfortable in my own skin.

Being a strong woman means I am no longer looking for validation from a society that will constantly tell me to be something else.

It means defining my own strength, instead of adhering to a set of standards society has decided women must follow in order to be considered strong.

Being a strong woman means I love who I am and I am not afraid to admit that to others.

And finally

Being a strong woman means…

I am no longer a girl who thinks she needs to go against the grain in order to be strong...

I can say that yes, because I have the courage to just be me, I am finally, unapologetically strong.

I am a woman.

I am strong.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

54949
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35368
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957515
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

184410
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments