The Big Question

Why do women have to compromise to live in a man’s world?

“I’m so sick of running as fast as I can. Wondering if I’d get there quicker if I was a man.”

-Taylor Swift

Why do women have to change every single thing about them for a man? Nothing that a woman does is ever seen as enough. A man can do whatever he wants in the world while women have to constantly shape shifts to appeal to them. On a daily basis women compromise to every man’s need. In school, the dress code is mainly for girls. How and why is it distracting to boys if our knees or legs aren’t covered? Or if our mid-drift or shoulders are exposed, heaven forbid they ever are because boys will just go wild and we are distracting them from their academics. But why and how is this distracting? When in reality the boys are the ones who are goofing off and being a distraction to us. In order for us to not be distracting, to avoid a dress code violation we have to avoid and forfeit our outfits that we want to wear so we aren’t distracting. 

But who in the first place decided that there are these “expectations” or “standards”  that women are supposed to follow? Women make so many accommodations it’s exhausting. In society, women are put into a box or category and they aren’t allowed to change anything about it. Men are allowed to color and even go outside the lines but as women, we aren’t allowed to do that. Or even if we do it is seen differently in a negative way. How come things have to be seen differently when its the same action but done by the person of the opposite gender?

If a woman chooses to do one thing over another, she is automatically judged on her decisions. For example, women aren’t allowed to show emotion. If we cry we are seen as weak, but if we get angry then we are seen as a bitch. If a woman is a pushover then she is seen as an easy target, but if a woman stands up for herself and projects her voice, she’s still a bitch. Why are women seen this way? Men get away with anything and everything in life, for if there is one inconvenience then they don’t have to worry about it because there will be a woman breaking her back to fix his problem. A man doesn’t know the feeling of being uncomfortable. Everyday whether it’s our outfit, our shoes, a man catcalling or us doing everything we can to fix the problem a man has made, we are the uncomfortable ones. But if one little thing disrupts a man on his high horse then the world starts to fall apart. 

In a man’s world, they are the only ones that get to climb the ladder of success. They are the only ones that can be CEO of a company or anything else. Women are just supposed to be the secretary, sitting still and looking pretty. But it shouldn’t be that way, women should be able to do whatever they want and not look down on it for being a woman. The same amount or even more recognition a man gets so should a woman. Why are women forced to compromise everything to live in the same world as a man? Why can’t both co-exist and be seen as equals who share the world? 

The main question along with many of the others asked above interest me because as I women I see and participate in compromising myself for the men in my life. I’ve thought about why women do this but the answer isn’t clear. The only answer I can come up with is that we want to be liked. Now this isn’t the best answer but I plan on doing more research and asking women in my life who I admire why we compromise for a man. There needs to be a change in the world on how women live their lives, and the change will start with us lighting the fire.