Thank you to the woman who wrote this.
Is it any wonder so many women are not happy with our society?
"Iām 14 and Iām struggling in Algebra class. When I ask for help, the male teacher says āIām not surprised, girls arenāt that good at Algebra.ā
Iām 18 and go to my first fraternity parties with girlfriends. We donāt ever say it out loud but itās understood that we need to stick together at these parties and not get separated, for our own safety.
Iām 20 and Iām working as a hostess at the Red Lion Inn in San Jose, near the airport. Men in suits come in to eat after their meetings during the day and I see them take off their wedding rings before heading into the bar next to the restaurant. Every girl who works there learns quickly not to bend too far over because of the short skirts of our uniforms.
Iām 22 and itās my first day on a new job. My male supervisor gets me into a room alone and I think heās going to tell me about the job but instead he tells me about how much he likes sex and how he needs to have it every day. I get up and walk out of the room and avoid him after that, but I donāt tell anyone because Iām one of the only women there and I donāt know what to do.
Iām 24 and Iām watching Anita Hill on TV, testifying about a man who wants to be on the Supreme Court. I donāt understand everything Iām watching but I understand that sheās a black woman facing down a panel of white men and she is going to lose because, at 24, I do understand who has power and who does not.
Iām any age in my 20s and Iām walking on the street, in a park, in a city, in a suburb, anywhere. Men tell me to smile, to wait a minute, to slow down whatās my hurry, can I ask you a question, can I stand too close to you, can I demand your space, your time, your attention, hey where you going bitch?
Iām 25. Iām buying my first car and the salesman offers a price I know is way too high. I bring my stepdad to the showroom and the same car is now $3000 less. I smile and buy the car but inside, Iām seething.
Iām any age in my 30ās and I think about where I park, where I go, whether I should get in that elevator that only has one man in it and how I should make sure not to make eye contact with men in the streets. All of this is normal to me and I donāt question any of it.
Iām 35. Iām buying my second car and the salesman says we should wait for my husband to get there before talking about the price but would I like to see the makeup mirror? I tell him Iām a lesbian and, if heās waiting for my husband, heās going to be waiting a long time. I leave because Iām learning.
Iām 40 and a woman, Hillary Clinton, is taking a serious run at the Democratic presidential nomination. Sheās smart, tough and qualified but she endures endless anger, viciousness, and misogyny and she eventually loses in the primary. Male friends tell me itās probably for the best because thereās just something they donāt like about her, you know?
Iām 49 and a man who said he grabs women by the pussy is elected as the 45th President of the United States. The night of the election, I feel physically ill and my first conscious thought is āmy God, the Supreme Court.ā The next morning, I overhear two men laughing and congratulating each other about the election and I feel unsafe in my own country.
Iām 51 and another man who stands credibly accused of sexual assault has just been confirmed to serve on the Supreme Court. I see women on television sobbing, screaming, protesting, crying out in their anguish and their fear. I am so angry. I think of every woman I know and I am so angry.
I am a woman. I am a daughter.
I am discounted. I am underrepresented. I am underestimated.
But I am a voter. Today, that has to be enough.ā
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