Natalie Powell, Sophomore
TW: This article mentions rape and sexual assault. Read at your own discretion.
What is it like in today's society for females? Ever since the beginning of time, women have always been treated differently. This includes having to dress a certain way, having to be polite, having to listen to men, having to accept when a man sexually assaults them and even rapes them, and generally getting told what to do with their body—overall, to “act like a lady.” Women are treated inequitably, especially when it involves clothing and treatment from males.
Too many people believe that girls lie about being raped and being sexually assaulted. An example is that on November 3rd, 1984, a 17 year old girl named Lisa McVey was kidnapped and raped. She had got out and survived; when she had got home she tried to explain to her grandmother and therapist that she had been kept captive for almost two days. No one had believed her until police had found evidence. She didn’t get her justice until four years later, after telling her mom, sister, grandmother, and the police. She had suffered for so long, seeing her rapist around her town, making her feel like she wasn’t worth anything, which she had said in one of her interviews. She told the truth each time someone asked her what happened and she still had to wait four years to get the evidence she needed to prove that a man had kidnapped her and raped her.
For girls in high school, the whole world is telling them what to do with their bodies. Why is it that females have to be responsible for males' reaction to what they are wearing? Teachers say cover the legs, cover the shoulder, cover any part of the skin that will incite the boy in the school. The implicit message also being relayed is if girls are showing too much skin, they’re “asking for it.” All females should be able to wear what they want and what they think they look good in, not dress to “impress” some boy that won’t react in a good way. Even some female adults think it inappropriate for teenage girls to wear a dress that shows their legs or has their shoulders out. They say to self-respect the body of the female by hiding the skin of a woman. Girls have reached out saying that we shouldn’t shame the female body just because we have stretch marks, acne, etc. Society makes girls think that we all need smooth skin and a perfect body. There is no such thing as a perfect body.
What women carry on their shoulders is their pride. Men like to take that pride away by violating women. Being violated takes a huge toll on a female. They try to speak about their past, but people either don’t believe them or get told to “get over it.” 1.9 million women are sexually harassed and raped a year. Women try to change the world by protesting that women are still humans and not just a person without feelings.
What is it like to be a female in today's society? Hard, overwhelming, tiring, always cautious. Females try to stay protected when going out at night or just in the day. Some females don’t have the ability to protect themselves. Men try to take away our happiness by forcing and drugging us, and making females feel weak and worthless by taking that pride they carry everywhere.
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