Throughout history there’s been a not-so-secret trend of women being silenced. Women like Charlotte Brontë and Maria Anna Mozart, those who were capable and intelligent but whose ideas were valued less because of their gender. Now, I wouldn’t dare compare myself to women like these. I can’t readily say that I’m as talented or as inspirational. I’m just a girl.
But, as a girl, that doesn’t mean that my voice doesn’t matter.
After my last blog was published, there was a minor amount of backlash on Twitter. Just a couple of guys from school, ridiculing my blog and expressing frustration about my opinions on rape (you know, that I disapprove of it).
Now, as a female writing about feminism on the internet, I should expect negative responses. People generally think feminism is a dirty word or that feminists take pleasure in plotting the fiery deaths of all men. Whatever my plan for female-only world domination is, I still like to discuss my ideas about feminism. I welcome discourse.
But these men weren’t discussing what I’d written. Rather, they used 140 characters to diminish what I was saying, and what I feel. And what they said really bothered me. They didn’t insult me, or what I had written, but they outright mocked me. They didn’t want to read what I had to say, which is fine. But rather than leave a well-thought-out comment on my blog or lean over during sixth hour to talk, they used social media. They typed, they clicked “send” and they were done.
I am not done.
Sexism is rampant across the globe. I feel its effects differently than a woman might in Somaliland or in New York City or sitting across from me in English. But it is still present. Its tide reaches across the world.
The point of that blog was that I am sick of being afraid. I am sick of sexism and of a culture that allows rape to slide. And these guys, I guess, are sick of reading about me being afraid. About women being afraid.
Well guess what? It doesn’t matter if you are sick of what I have to say. I have a voice, I am fortunate enough to have a platform on which to share it and I will use whatever small amount of power I have to make a difference. I will continue writing and sharing my opinions no matter what you think.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. I will not be made to feel inferior. I revoke my consent. I will not be silenced, whether the backlash I receive comes in the form of a twitter reply or a shouted slur in the hallway. I will not be silenced. I demand to be taken seriously.
The world touches me too heavily sometimes. I get worked up and my emotions seep through my pores. I cry more than I should. My anger gets confused with sadness far more often than what is normal. Little things bother me and worm their way into my heart. One hundred and forty characters can ruin my day. But I will not let them stop me.
I am an emotional creature. And I will use those emotions to help me and to help the women of the world. I will think and speak and type whatever I like until my fingers bleed simply because I can. I will fight until all women feel they can do the same.
So, to the three men who carelessly taunted and condescended to me: I’ve done my piece. I will continue to do it, once a week, for the next few months or the next few decades.
Now the ball, or should I say, balls, are in your court.
Related
My bad @claudvonsmeast:disqus I thought you were targeting myself. That’s my fault.
Something else I don’t understand, if you are against these people “who carelessly taunted and condescended” you then why are you asking them to respond to this newest article? At the end you say, “Now the ball, or should i say, balls, are in your court,” but the whole article you have been criticizing them on how they confronted you. Why are you asking for a response when you obviously are annoyed about the fact that they brought your article up at all? Don’t fuel a fire that you are trying to put out.
Again I will ask, to all the members of the Harbinger, for my comments to not be deleted. Disagreeing with someone is not insulting them. I have not said anything insulting and I have not used any vulgar language. People are going to have a reaction to what you write about, just like you will have a reaction to what we have to say. Thank you.
No one is telling you to stop writing because you are a woman. Simply stating that articles like this are getting a little repetitive. I certainly understand that women have had a history of being denied rights and equal treatment, but nobody is doing that to you. We aren’t telling you to stop writing about this because you are a woman, but because you have already written about it.
I have had a few friends comment on your blog before and their comments have been deleted, so I ask you to please leave my comments alone. I have not said anything insulting and I have not used any vulgar language. If you would like to talk to me about this feel free to lean over while we are in sixth hour together or hit me up on social media. Thank you.
No one is trying to scare you or make fun of you. Simply just stating that articles like this one or the previous ones you have written about are just getting a little repetitive. No one is telling you to stop writing about this because you are a woman, but that you should stop writing about this because you have already written about it. I understand the fact that woman have certainly been denied equal rights and equal treatment, but no one is denying you these rights or treating you differently. People are going to have a reaction to what you have to say and you shouldn’t take it so personally or say that you are being “threatened” or “mocked.” Your words cause a reaction, just like our words cause one from you.
i will not be silenced
why are comments being deleted? is this not an open place to discuss the topic professionally?
typical
You do you girl. Our generations social media immaturity combined with insecure, snobby East kids who have little to actually talk about is gonna promp some hate coming your way – someone who actually stands up for what they believe in and is proud of it. Best thing you can do – ignore those trolls. If you’re goal is to make a difference in the world and change it for the better you’re gonna be ostracized by these little bitches so you gotta pay them no mind.
@claudvonsmeast:disqus heard
I really don’t appreciate being ridiculed for just having a differing opinion on this subject. I don’t think I was being snobby, but obviously that is just a stereotypical insult targeted at East kids which is brought up when someone has nothing else to say. I guess the only thing to do is to make myself more clear. The comments I recently posted i stand behind a hundred percent but I think some people have misinterpreted them for “hate” or “trolling.” That is not what I mean to do at all. I disagree with the article because I believe that no one is telling the writer to stop writing because she is a woman, but only because she has continuously written about this. It seems like whenever someone says something negative regarding this article or the previous ones or any articles relating or having a similar topic that the writers get defensive because they think people are saying negative things because they are women. But again i will state, like i have stated before, that this is certainly not the case. People dislike these articles because it seems like the only thing the Harbinger has to talk about. The Harbinger has a feminist stereotype for a reason. Now I know that there really is nothing I can do to stop you from writing these articles and I don’t care if you do stop or not. In fact, I think its admirable that you stand behind your beliefs so strongly and keep on with it even when you say you get a lot of hate. The only thing I’m trying to make clear is the reason why you get this hate.
@claudvonsmeast:disqus At least I have the balls to put my name on the comments I make.