When I was around five years old, I
change, you are too much. If you take a step
believed I could behave, wear, and achieve
back and observe, you aren’t doing enough".
anything I wanted. There was no notion in my
Being a woman is exhausting! A few years
mind of being the “weaker sex”. I wanted to
back I opted to follow suit with my brilliant
play as hard as the boys played. If my clothes
predecessors and began to question the
were bothering me, I would take them off.
“why” behind specific actions. I reclaimed
Why couldn't I show my nipples as boys did?
my seat at the table. I asked to be considered
As time went by and I grew older, society,
and treated as an equal. I stopped being
my family, and certain types of environments
perky and always smiling at meetings. I held
showed me otherwise. I was made to believe
people, females included, accountable for
I had to follow certain societal “rules” to fit
their behavior. I called out misogyny, pointed
in. Wearing certain clothes or having many
out disadvantages, and offered solutions.
sex partners would label me an “easy”
Before you start thinking “wow how brave
woman. In the workplace, there were glass
of you please show me how!” let me stop
ceilings I wasn’t supposed to shatter or even
you right there. My behavior didn’t gain
question. Fit the mold. Smile and nod. Sit still
me any friends or any extra support. On the
look pretty.
contrary, all I got was the archetypes of being
Women have been categorized into specific roles and behaviors since the
“difficult”, “intimidating”, and a “bitch”. Was it worth it? I believe so.
beginning of time. The ironic thing is that we
As I look back on my experiences,
are also given the notion that if you follow
difficulties, and lessons learned, I have deep
the rules, chances of equal treatment and
respect for all the brave trailblazers. The ones
respect for who you are may increase. After
who fought so hard to give us an independent
all, aren’t you doing what society, and other
voice. The ones who understood we deserved
women, are telling you to do? Farther from
to be seen. I’m, in no way, comparing myself
the truth, unfortunately.
to them. Yet, I do recognize the power my
Becky Hemsley said it best in her now
actions have over my daughter. I look at
famous poem, “Breathe”: (in my own words)
her with pride knowing that, even in a very
"If you step up your game and lead the
minuscule way, I helped pave her future. I’m
mara clark
by
amuse | 5
