We teach girls to shrink themselves
To make themselves smaller
We say to girls
“You can have ambition
But not too much
You should aim to be successful
But not too successful
Otherwise you will threaten the man”
Because I am female
I am expected to aspire to marriage
I am expected to make my life choices
Always keeping in mind that
Marriage is the most important
Now marriage can be a source of
Joy and love and mutual support
But why do we teach to aspire to marriage
And we don’t teach boys the same?
We raise girls to each other as competitors
Not for jobs or for accomplishments
Which I think can be a good thing
But for the attention of men
We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings
In the way that boys are
Feminist: the person who believes in the social
Political, and economic equality of the sexes
-chimamanda ngozi adichie
I love this quote- and that’s an understatement. Ladies, play nice with one another – I recall a time in 8th grade as the new girl in town. At that time, I had the misfortune of being liked by the boy to like (Hey Bri, still love ya!) needless to say, the mutual crush that we developed became problematic when my friend liked him too. I decided to let her know how I felt- Neither of us needs him- girlfrenz before menz. Preach. We agreed and the backstabbery began. She tried to snatch him right up from underneath me! This was my first, but not last, underhanded girl relationship.
It frustrates me to no end that we do this to one another. Girls are girls worst enemies. We judge, we talk, we snicker, we gossip. We are just straight up evil sometimes. Well, today I say no more! Girls, lay down your weapons, and by weapons I’m referring to that stink eye you’ve been giving me all day!
Today I will be surrounded by women in celebration of my dear friend Molly and her husband to be Nate! Hug a girlfriend today- or just be nice. That works too.
52 Miles per Month 