Life

CC

Man flu when men come down with an ailment that women would shrug off and get on with life. Ok so why when men are reluctant to go to a doctor do the women say this is equally stupid. I have yet to hear a feminist complain that women have a longer life span. Breast cancer is rightly taken very seriously and woe betide any man who sniggers at the mere mention of breasts. Alternatively Testicular cancer is a well known cause of sniggering amongst women opften in the media . . . “oooh he said balls!” So onone hand men are to be sniggered at for taking their health more seriously but wimps for getting ill and dying earlier. mmmn!

Theresa

Hello, I am a young 18 year old girl from Australia and I have a few things to say about everyday sexism that I have experienced. The first thing I think of when referring to this topic is the many times I could be walking down the street with either my sister or by myself to find some cars passing by honking or cat calling out to us. The worst time this had happened was when I was alone waiting for an early morning bus into work and a group of four young man loudly shouted out and called to me and then proceeded to drive quickly in the direction of shop bus station. Luckily they just drove around the parking area and didn’t disturb anymore than that. During school I had found sexism occured when people would perceive my love for biology as a weird thing for a girl, or the time I picked up a grasshopper to place it outside it was seen as a “boyish” thing to do. Another instance I have experienced is both in public and at home where people will actively insult or tease me for having both small breasts and butt; some even saying I have the chest of and butt of a boy. The only other form of sexism I have experienced is in every relationship I have has so far with a male has involved sexist insults and assumptions. Generally the male I have dated were surprised by my independant nature to the point of complaining to me about it or calling it a flaw. There has also been a common belief among them that because I am a girl that likes them sexual intimacy and sending nudes is something I am meant to do and they didn’t always listen to the word “No.” I have also had all my opinions ignored constantly and dismissed as being “over dramatic,” or “maybe she’s on her period,” or “her hormones must be acting up.” I have also had my ex’s parents try and shove the idea of children down my throat even when I may seem uncomfortable as I want to put my energy into my career. Usually when I tell them that they tell me how “different” I am from most girls who would dream of a family and kids from a young age unlike me. (sorry for the long post. As soon as I started to write I realized just how much sexism I have experienced and thought nothing of.)

Damn

I hate being asked if I’m a lesbian. I hate being shamed for never having a boyfriend. I hate having two dudes breathing down my neck asking if my tits could be any flatter. Well, excuse me for not having a boyfriend, while I’m asexual and never learned how to love someone as a boyfriend. Sorry for not having one while I’m struggling with identity, feeling rejected by a God who is supposed to love and accept me, being folded and crushed by overwhelming demands from school and life, fighting the fact that my childhood was and is still being wasted and that I’m born to squeeze out money for the government and then die… I’m fighting myself and more, and you dare to shame me for not having someone who I’ll have to give attention and love to, while I barely love myself? I didn’t mean to rant about my problems, but life needs to fuck off for a minute. Phew.

Bevel

So my sister(aged 20) is planning to go on a short holiday to another country on her own. My mum is terrified and dosen’t want her to go alone(understandable). It’s just kind of sad that she can’t travel to another country on her own because she’s female and might get raped or kidnapped. #girlproblems

Anonymous

I moved to a new school aged 13 and in my first science class the boy next to me asked ‘do you masterbate’ without even an introduction. School continued with more phrases and questions like this coming up. If I didn’t want to respond or talk about it I might be called frigid or a nun. Guys would pick me up without invitation and slap me on the bum. This was all the while happening to the other girls in my year (across the whole school really) and I was friends with most of the guys which meant I didnt always challenge them when I should have. There were frequent jipes that if I was in a bad mood or unhappy with the way I was being treated by them then I must be on my period, a theme that continues today (aged 25) from some men I know or encounter. For a few months aged 18 I had to walk along a main road to get to work, every single day along the 1 mile stretch I would be beeped at by multiple lorry or van drivers, this made me feel vulnerable and I was always wondering if one day someone would stop. Like many other women I have also been called a slut, bitch and a whore for absolutely no reason other than the fact I am a woman. It particularly stings when it is coming from your partner who thinks its a funny joke but doesn’t understand how demeaning it is. Way too often I hear groups of men when I am out in public making misogynistic comments or jokes about rape or objectifying women. It makes me wonder, are all men inherently sexist from birth or is it all learned, from society and pornography? Men and boys seem to think it is funny and cool and lad culture thrives on the sexual power play they try and have over women. I wish they would just quit it and speak to us as equals, as people and not objects.