Merging my feminist banter with my love for prose...
You want to run out real quick, grab a cup of coffee or see that new window display a few blocks over. It's getting dark and you're a woman, so you better not go alone. Ask your girlfriends to keep you company. Power in numbers, aye? That's not good enough. Ask a man. A few men. Preferably someone big, muscular, or capitalize on good old American racism and bring along a sturdy black man. Before you head out though, better put on a longer skirt. Make that a pair of pants. Jeans. Take off your heels. They make your ass look too perfect and you can't run as fast as you may need to in them. Converse. Converse for the win. So jeans and converse, right? Perfect. You wouldn't want to bring attention to yourself. Blend in. Be like everyone else. Everyone wears jeans and converse. Right right?
Most importantly, don't ever ever ever feel safe. Be afraid. Go ahead, let them use fear to control you.
You want to run out real quick, grab a cup of coffee or see that new window display a few blocks over. It's getting dark and you're a woman, so you better not go alone. Ask your girlfriends to keep you company. Power in numbers, aye? That's not good enough. Ask a man. A few men. Preferably someone big, muscular, or capitalize on good old American racism and bring along a sturdy black man. Before you head out though, better put on a longer skirt. Make that a pair of pants. Jeans. Take off your heels. They make your ass look too perfect and you can't run as fast as you may need to in them. Converse. Converse for the win. So jeans and converse, right? Perfect. You wouldn't want to bring attention to yourself. Blend in. Be like everyone else. Everyone wears jeans and converse. Right right?
Where are you going? Avoid that street. Don't make eye contact with anyone. It sends the wrong message. You're not interested. Walk faster. This neighborhood seems sketchy. Slow down. You're bringing attention to yourself. You see a bar on the way home. One drink won't hurt. Don't drink too much. Have you forgotten you're a woman? What in the hell are you doing? You can't leave with him. Don't you dare give out your number. Have those guys walk you and your girlfriends home. Perhaps you should hold hands, so they appear more protective. Remember, lock your door as soon as you arrive home.
Most importantly, don't ever ever ever feel safe. Be afraid. Go ahead, let them use fear to control you.
While I appreciate the idea behind this, I need to reaffirm that ensuring one's safety truly is of utmost importance. It sucks that we live in a world where us women have to restrict OUR decisions out of fear that someone else will make decisions that don't respect our bodies and minds, but it's the sad reality. Please be careful at school next year :)
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