We unfortunately live in a society that seems to never let women stand up for themselves. Sexist slurs are used to describe women the instant that they set boundaries or speak up.
Women will endure bullying daily allowing others to make jokes at their own expense, but can never ask to have the joke explained or repeated.
I recently experienced two women making false claims towards the character and actions of my peers and me. The comments were delivered in an open setting and under their breath.
I clearly heard what they said but asked them to repeat themselves directly to our faces. Only one person was brave enough to tell me what was said.
I decided to defend my character in a stern, yet factual matter, and was then called a sexist slur in return.
Women can never win, even against their own.
Being a woman is exhausting especially when people are watching you under a microscope.
I believe America Ferrera’s powerful monologue in the “Barbie” movie, said it best in part:
“It is literally impossible to be a woman. You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas. You have to be a career woman but always look out for other people. You have to answer for men’s bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you’re accused of complaining.“
Many have argued that women should reclaim the sexist slur and while pop culture has seen the success with it, there are many ways reclaiming the slur will harm society.
We should not have to reclaim the term; people should stop using it as a hateful comment or stop using it in general.
Women do enough, they should not have to add reclaiming a slur to the list.
Women have enough to worry about already, such as having the rights to their own body.
I will never understand the need for unnecessary hate when they are simply trying their best to survive in a man’s world.
