WE ARE WOMEN.
In Kyrgyzstan, there is a tradition where a man, together with his friends or relatives, can kidnap a woman he wants to marry. They will bring the woman forcefully into their home with the family of the man waiting and preparing to put a veil on the woman which symbolizes that the woman is getting married. Most women had no choice but to accept it because it is a tradition. A law cannot stop it because it is a tradition.
In Bulgaria, some girls who are young and virgins are being sold by their own family in an annual bride market to a suitor/bidder who can buy them for marriage or in some cases, it is what they want to find a wealthy man to be their husband.
In Mauritania, young girls are being force-fed to gain weight to prepare them for future marriage. The mothers of those young girls prepare a 9,000 calories meal a day to feed to their daughters because men find stout women more attractive than an American model.
In India, a lot of women are working in the sex industry, managed by gangsters who lured and sex-trafficked those women who came from poor villages when they were just young girls. Those women are locked up in a building surrounded by gangsters who threaten them, starved them, and abused them by hitting them if they refused to work for sex.
In Honduras, many women are being killed by men who might be their boyfriend, friend, relative, hitman, or just a stranger. Most of those Honduran women are killed for $60 because men perceived women as an easy target. After all, women trust people easily and it makes them vulnerable.
In Nepal, girls are being married off at a very young age because society viewed women as economically incapable and they don't have anything to contribute to their family. Young girls are forced to do labor and get married to lessen their family's burden.
In Romania, many young girls are groomed to work as sex workers in Europe. Those young girls think that there is no escape in that kind of life and there's nothing they can do to change that.
In Nigeria, many female students are being sexually harassed by school faculties in exchange for good grades. Nobody believed them because most of their offenders are the head of the university or a pastor.
In Iraq, one of the oldest ethnic groups, The Yazidis were held captive by the terrorist group, ISIS. ISIS killed all men and kidnapped all women and children to raped them for a very long time.
In South Korea, perverts put hidden spy cameras on public restrooms, hotels, the dormitory of female students to capture them naked while changing clothes and posting them on porn sites. This causes suicide for many students.
In Ghana, thousands of women are enslaved by a tradition where women must give up their freedom to live their own life by forcing them to live and work for priests for the rest of their lives. This is a way to pay for the sins of their own family.
In every part of the world, there is a woman who is a victim of tradition, poverty, sexual abuse and gender stereotypes. Women become sacrificial lambs because they perceived our gender as weak and incapable. I don't believe in equality especially when it comes to gender. Because I believe that each gender has its uniqueness which makes them different from the rest and makes them stand out. However, just because someone is different, you think to have the right to invalidate them or ignore the fact that they have rights, duties, aspirations, and life of their own. Every women, especially those who have the heart of a warrior are stronger than the society could imagine. Women can be independent and strong. Women can contribute and feed her family with her own money. Women are capable. Our body is not an object to own.
I still feel fortunate because I lived in a country where many people, regardless of their gender, age and beliefs, are standing up to help women eradicate the way how society viewed us. This should apply to all gender that experienced abused and stereotypes from their family, friends, and even strangers. But the problem will never disappear unless we do something about it instead of just talking about it. Action is better than words.
Remember, yourself is your power. The society is your enemy. Train yourself to fight and win the battle using your wisdom and strength.
AND TO YOU:
IF YOU CAN'T ACCEPT IT, RESPECT IT. IF YOU CAN'T GIVE RESPECT TO IT, DO NOT DEMAND THE SAME THING YOU CANNOT GIVE.
(APOLOGIES FOR MY GRAMMAR)
FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS. FEEL FREE TO CORRECT ME. FEEL FREE TO VOICE OUT YOUR IDEAS. 🌼