When it comes to female social issues It’s hard to get a rile out of me, and my style of rebelling against stereotypes is rather low key. I’m unshaven, feel no shame walking out into daylight with out a spec of make up on and have the mouth of a sailor. Never do I feel the need to brag about how “radical” I am, or how I refuse to let “the man” hold me down. But everyone has an achilles heel, mine being, hitting woman. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not getting all upset about some jerk not whaling on his girlfriend often enough. I mean that when I throw a punch, you refuse to hit me back because “you can’t hit girls”. Those four words are all it takes to send me into a spastic whirlwind of rage only to be met with more comments about how they refuse to strike back.
This strikes a few nerves with in me. First and foremost, equal is evidently not equal. If to be free of racism means to not recognize any distinction between people based on raced, then to be free of sexism means to see no distinction between people’s sex. Unfortunately I have never found this idea in reality. Instead, coworkers are amazed when I can pick up a box, stunned when I climb a shelf, and shocked when I don’t call crying for someone to change my flat tire. Why? Simply because less is expected of me. I am a woman after all, aren’t I supposed to give up quickly and call someone bigger, stronger, and less feminine to help me achieve my goals? Luckily I was not raised this way, I was taught to work hard for what you want and let nothing stand in your way. This means, build muscles to lift your own boxes, dare to climb high, and pick up that grease covered wrench and change your own damn tire! It’s 2am and raining! No one wants to do that for you! In all, were male and female truly equal, it would be rather ridiculous to hear a woman bragging about her stick shift car.
What almost hurts more then being expected to fail in a fight, is the unspoken insult, that to hit me would be unfair and wrong. This doesn’t just apply to physical fights, I’ve seen instances where men think it’s just not right to argue with a woman, in an offensive attempt at fluffing the female ego. Thanks, but I didn’t start this fight to win by surrender. Nor am I going into anything with some sort of secret women-weapon. (Tampon nunchucks go! Damage plus 50 points! Status effects: Girl cooties!) In truth, were some one ever to physically strike back I’d probably loose. When someone is twice your height and genetically inclined to build muscle in their sleep, it’s almost a joke that I would ask them to hit me. But at least have the decency to to pound my face into the ground instead of walking away laughing. This may seem ridiculous but it’s a point of pride. Of course I don’t want to fail, but in order to succeed I have to first try. By walking away, or not slapping me with insults you’re taking away my ability to try. You’re taking away an opportunity for me to become something more, to earn those battle scars you so proudly show.
So this is it, my challenge. I challenge you to one of the most difficult challenges you may ever receive. Be equal-minded. Refuse to assume things based on a persons sex. Women, build your own muscles and fight for your scars. Men, fight back for once, she may surprise you. Never let a stereotype stop you, or be a motivation. This world is not just black and white, it’s ying and yang. Fight for the true eradication of sexism.
