By Kirsty Talita Canham (13 years old)
I have always wanted to have a thinner body or just simply perfection to impress a guy who might actually like me. Until many feminists around me in my new high school made me realize that you only have to do things for yourself. I’ve always wanted equality for both females and males. Though I have always wondered if this change will happen, what do we do until then?
Ultimately you change your perspective like I have, I wanted equality yet I wanted to satisfy some male with my looks. Why not try something for yourself, lose weight for yourself. I am putting myself in a position where I am equal to my male counter-parts whom I would’ve loved to satisfy. That male or female shouldn’t be your first priority put yourself first.
Relationships
And see how far you can go independently without a partner to rely on. If you do get a partner then just know they aren’t your life. I have heard of many stories where someone breaks up with their partner and only start looking “good” afterwards to prove something to their ex. Why not prove yourself during that relationship? Stop limiting yourself, everyone can change something about themselves. Even a small change is good enough.
Feminist does not just stand for gender but for race as well
If it’s not a gender struggle it’s a race struggle facing women. As a black teenage girl (mixed race), many people have called me black and they say I’m really not a coloured because to be a coloured I had to obtain a certain image in order to be accepted (one of the many things I despise.) You are not black because your skin colour is darker, or your hair texture is different.
Why does race matter so much? This is apparently because of our history where black people were enslaved. I am sure it started way before those times, but really as long as we are a human race it really does not matter what disability you have, what race you are, sickness you have, NONE of those define who you are. Living in a black community when I was younger, the closer you were to being white, the better you were, but the more you acted like a white person the more you were despised. But for me personally the more you have true character the better you really are.
Being a woman is strength
So back to the gender issue. Being a woman is not a weakness. Let us think about this, all women have their menstrual period right? But often we feel embarrassed and easily forget our menstrual period is one of the characteristics that make women stronger sometimes better than our male counter-parts. Sadly women belittle other women. I was only ever bullied by girls, because when they saw something different, “unattractive” they kind of like excluded it. My features have always been a problem for me, but I still am as much of a girl as every other girl is. Wanting something you love and going for it is not a weakness. Losing your virginity, getting pregnant at a young age or before marriage is not a weakness. You can bring life into this world, embrace that. Being single and having children is not a crime, but a sign of strength. Liking women if you are a girl (vice versa) is awesome. As much as this is called Lesbian or Gay, it is like putting you in a specific group (category) we are all different we are not the same, maybe this is why most people don’t belong in a clique! Boys, girls, trans-genders are awesome and amazing!