The road has been long...
Because I come from a generation of women who could not study and had to marry very young. And when I wanted to be different from them, it was they themselves who were afraid and told me to give up my dreams. Because, sometimes we not only have to fight against men, sometimes the enemy is in our own ranks.
Because in the academy I had to prove that beauty and intelligence can go hand in hand, because they always questioned my talent, because there was always a teacher who used his subject to scare me and wanted me to go to his office at the end of the class.
Because when I went out on the street I endured the foul words and leering of the bricklayers, the motorists, the passers-by. Because I was not a victim but guilty because of the way I dressed, the way I walked, the way I smiled at people.
Because I was told from an early age how I should sit, stand, walk. I was told that I should accept, obey the man. To lower my gaze, to hide my passions. Because my grandmother used to say: “A man jumps and falls on his feet, but there is always someone who remembers a woman's slip. And when I speak of slipping, I speak of temptations.
Because we were told that to be loved we had to learn to cook, iron, sew and “set the table in its holy place”. Because they don't ask me how many degrees I have or about the last trip I took, but whether I am already a mother or married, and then they say that I missed the train, that I am late. And nobody believes me when I say that I don't want to get on that train and that I'm waiting for a different train. And that if no train passes, it doesn't matter either because I can walk alone.
Because I don't want to show a man that I am different from him, and that I am also different from other women: being different is our mark as human beings. Because I don't want to be more important than a man, I am as important as anyone else. I want to have the same rights, but also to have the same obligations.
The road has been long and we are still walking. And although it has been difficult, we cannot afford to retreat, because we have already lost so much. On my path, I am responsible and I give myself permission to feel and live what I want. In my path I have put myself first, although there are many fundamental people in this story. On my path I don't have to fit in and I don't need to be perfect. I am proud to be a woman and I am not looking to be pigeonholed with any label: mother, daughter, wife, lover, teacher. No. I am a woman and for me, that is enough.
The images are from my personal gallery and the text was translated with Deepl
Thanks so much for the support, @ecency friends and most especially to @secorama. Many successes
Being a woman is already a great title.
Beautiful reflection
The greatest of them all! That's enough for the world to give us the position we deserve. Greetings and thank you for your comment, friend
I am so glad you followed your dreams Nancy. What saddens me is how in Afghanistan for example women have been set back decades again and can't even attend university etc.
We are all equal and should be able to do what we want without society telling us what we can or can't do!
A belated women's day hug to you Nancy.
I see this setback happening, but we must not lose heart. Things have changed: we are no longer so invisible and people are not so blind. I accept that belated embrace, Ed!!! I embrace you too
I accept that embrace then :)
Happy that you have stand your grounds and be able to live life the way you want it to be.😁