A feminist thought.

As a young girl new to the big city, I have had to make many adjustments. Most significantly, becoming used to the objectification of women. It is common to be starred at on the subway or hit on while walking down the street at any hour of the day. While this wasn't unusual in Lawrence, it certainly didn't run as rampant. It's as if the constant movement of the city and the anonymous nature of the crowd allows for blatant and rather insulting remarks. I don't wish to write here what was said to me in Kenmore square a few days ago, by an EMT driving an ambulance nonetheless, however all you must know is that it was incredibly degrading and completely inappropriate for any setting. I stood in awe at a loss for words as the man walked away. What right did he have to enter my world and address me so crudely? What had I done to him to deserve that kind of comment? Sadly, I had done nothing more than be an attractive woman on the sidewalk. He chose me and that moment to exert his "manly" power over the situation. 

This event has left me thinking about feminists and women's continuing struggle with their place in a world often still dominated by men. This ongoing struggle is rooted in primal instincts and physical attributes. Women are generally built smaller than men and are less able to exert themselves physically over males. In the beginning of civilization women's physical limitations had an impact on survival. Men were more well suited to be the hunters and gatherers. However, no one said anything about our mental capacity. It has been proven that women mature faster than men and are at least on the same mental playing field. Women tend to live longer and only 1 in 200 of us are color blind as opposed to the 1 in 20 men that are color blind.

These are small facts and I am not attempting to shed women in a better light than men, but I do believe  that we are equal and don't deserve to be tirelessly objectified while walking down the street. There are considerable differences between the sexes, however we are all human and I will continue to expect a certain amount of respect as a creature of this planet. 

"Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression. "

-Margaret Sanger