#whyimmad

[whyimmad]

Round and round we go

[adayinthelifeofa20something]

I'm pissed. Everywhere I look, every article I read, is more and more about how people are continually oppressed. I'm not mad that the articles are there - not by any means. This world clearly needs these issues thrown in our faces. I'm mad because it's still happening, and honestly I feel as though things are only getting worse. I'm mad because I'm a female and apparently that means the world can blame whatever happens to me on how I dress, the pictures I take, the things I eat, how I present myself, if I did or did not "speak like a proper lady", and so on. I'm mad because people think they don't need feminism, solely because no one seems to understand that feminism is in favor of everyone - male, female, trans, gay, straight, etc. I'm mad because somehow, in this world that we consider "forward thinking" and "modern," we still seem to think that being anything other than cisgendered and heterosexual is a choice or a phase. I'm mad because rights are being taken away and lives are being lost, and humans are being completely disrespected. You know what you do choose? The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the shows and movies that you watch, the music you listen to, the creed/faith/religion/spirituality you practice (and preach.) You know what you don't choose? Your gender identity, your sexuality, your race, your ethnicity, the very basic and inate parts of who you are on the inside. I'm mad because I'm aware of white privelege and I know how much it hurts people. I'm mad because when people see a name that doesn't "look Caucasion" or "look American" there are stereotypes attached - resumes turned away, applications shoved to the side, people stereotyped all because of their name, their assumed racial and ethnic identity. This world has me so infuriated. But what can I do? I can rant and rave and scream until I'm blue in the face. I can yell and scream and bitch on social media. But the best thing that anyone can do? Stand up, speak out, educate and advocate and don't be ashamed or embarrassed to point out what's right and what's wrong in the world. Don't fight violence with violence. Don't scream at someone screaming at you. Don't throw racist comments around because they've been said at you. Don't degrade someone because of who they are. Stand up for what's right. When you hear a rape joke, tell them it's wrong - you never know who around you has been victimized (1 in 4 females and 1 in 6 males - keep those numbers in your head.) When someone says something racially or ethnically charged in all the wrong ways, correct them - there's a right and a wrong way to approach everyone, and every single person deserves respect. When someone refuses service to another person because of their race, religion, gender identity, sexuality, or any other unjust reason, stand up for them - walk out, don't give places like that any business, even if it is legal to do in the areas you're in. I'm mad. But I'm not powerless, and neither are you. Stand up, fight what's wrong in this world, help make this world a more accepting and understanding place. We have the chance now, and the opportunities to do so have never been greater. We are all human, and we all deserve to be treated as such.