There are people out there who are going to bite off my head for this. Fortunately, I am secure enough in my friend and family circle that I'm pretty sure that none of you are like this.
__________________________
I am a woman.
I live in the twenty-first century.
I am a feminist. No, not the sort who dwells on Tumblr.
I am fortunate enough to go to a school where male and female student employees get paid the same (I actually get paid more than my male co-workers but that's a different story).
I am fortunate that my school has lots of opportunities for women, especially those in STEM like me.
I am graduating in a month and five days.
After that, I'm going out in the world. I will have to fight for equal pay. Moreover, I will have to fight for my body, my rights.
Society applies high expectations on me, because I carry an extra X chromosome. Because due to my XX chromosomes, society expects me to pop out babies. Society expects me to be quiet. Society expects me to be submissive. Society expects me to be, in one word, a lady.
Why is this even happening?
When I tell people that I might not have kids, and that I'm perfectly fine with it, they implode. They say, "When you're thirty, you'll want kids." "Doesn't your uterus twitch when you see babies?" (I have gotten this before!) They ask, "Who's going to take care of you when you're old?" Uh, my tax dollars?
When I say, "Yeah, I like my last name. I might keep it if I marry my boyfriend," people lose their heads. "You have to take his last name!" Why? What if he wants to take mine? What's wrong with that? I have an awesome Italian last name. Chances are good that if you meet someone with my last name, we're related. Why should I throw that away?
I can't walk down the street without getting ogled at or getting whistled at. I walk with my eyes straight ahead, my keys between my fingers just in case. I know to punch, I know to kick, I know to bite, and I know to run like hell. I remember once, I was twenty years old and walking down East Ave with my sister, and a man followed us, increasing pace until we ducked into a bar and hung out with the bouncers.
Why?
Why do I need to know how to defend myself (granted, it's a very good talent to have)? Why do I need to defend my choices to possibly not pop out a crying, drooling, wet, sticky kid? What if I don't want to follow the kid through my house, cleaning up? I don't know if I'd like to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars per kid. I'd like to use that money to travel the world, thanks.
People tell me, "You're a woman in STEM. You'll never get a job." Thanks. You're awesome. I'd like fries with my order, please.
What if I want to smoke cigars, hop on planes, shoot guns, and drive awesome cars? What if I want to ride my horse astride, rather than sidesaddle (the horror!!!!)?
Let me wear the outfits I want to wear, dance at bars how I want, and not attract unwanted attention. I am not "asking for it."
Let me live my life. I have autonomy. Politicians, lawmakers, and society can't control what I do with me.
This is me.
This is my life.
Let me live it.
__________________________
I am a woman.
I live in the twenty-first century.
I am a feminist. No, not the sort who dwells on Tumblr.
I am fortunate enough to go to a school where male and female student employees get paid the same (I actually get paid more than my male co-workers but that's a different story).
I am fortunate that my school has lots of opportunities for women, especially those in STEM like me.
I am graduating in a month and five days.
After that, I'm going out in the world. I will have to fight for equal pay. Moreover, I will have to fight for my body, my rights.
Society applies high expectations on me, because I carry an extra X chromosome. Because due to my XX chromosomes, society expects me to pop out babies. Society expects me to be quiet. Society expects me to be submissive. Society expects me to be, in one word, a lady.
Why is this even happening?
When I tell people that I might not have kids, and that I'm perfectly fine with it, they implode. They say, "When you're thirty, you'll want kids." "Doesn't your uterus twitch when you see babies?" (I have gotten this before!) They ask, "Who's going to take care of you when you're old?" Uh, my tax dollars?
When I say, "Yeah, I like my last name. I might keep it if I marry my boyfriend," people lose their heads. "You have to take his last name!" Why? What if he wants to take mine? What's wrong with that? I have an awesome Italian last name. Chances are good that if you meet someone with my last name, we're related. Why should I throw that away?
I can't walk down the street without getting ogled at or getting whistled at. I walk with my eyes straight ahead, my keys between my fingers just in case. I know to punch, I know to kick, I know to bite, and I know to run like hell. I remember once, I was twenty years old and walking down East Ave with my sister, and a man followed us, increasing pace until we ducked into a bar and hung out with the bouncers.
Why?
Why do I need to know how to defend myself (granted, it's a very good talent to have)? Why do I need to defend my choices to possibly not pop out a crying, drooling, wet, sticky kid? What if I don't want to follow the kid through my house, cleaning up? I don't know if I'd like to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars per kid. I'd like to use that money to travel the world, thanks.
People tell me, "You're a woman in STEM. You'll never get a job." Thanks. You're awesome. I'd like fries with my order, please.
What if I want to smoke cigars, hop on planes, shoot guns, and drive awesome cars? What if I want to ride my horse astride, rather than sidesaddle (the horror!!!!)?
Let me wear the outfits I want to wear, dance at bars how I want, and not attract unwanted attention. I am not "asking for it."
Let me live my life. I have autonomy. Politicians, lawmakers, and society can't control what I do with me.
This is me.
This is my life.
Let me live it.
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