i've been thinking about my time spent in france lately. i was there for 86 days. i remember everything about them, everythiiinnng about each day. i kept a very detailed journal that was given to the boyfriend at the time as a "here's what i've been up to when i was gone" gift. naturally, i am the owner of these manuscripts now.
i was reading them a while back and remembering my adventures in the country of wine and cheese. a theme that prevailed on many entries was how i many times felt awkward walking on the streets due to the forward-ness of french/north-african boys. they truly do not mind saying what's on their minds- and there can't be good things in their testosterone infested minds, hahaha.
i'm no newbie, i am also from a culture where men stare and comment on women's appearances. i know how that feels, i've grown up surrounded by it. maybe it's because i had been apart from it for a while, but for some reason i found myself feeling odd and attacked while in france. because of my tan skin, many thought i was north african as well, and maybe they thought i was more accessible then? or maybe i'm just sooooo breath taking, ha ha haaaa nottt!. who knows, who cares. i just couldn't shake the feeling of being objectified while i was there.
regardless of the reason, that is not okay! why do men think they have all the rights in the world to say what comes to their heads? and if they do it ,then why can't we girls do it?! yes, you guessed it: because we have been objectified for centuries and we have been conditioned to just accept it, to take it and to do nothing about it. well, it is fricking time we stand up for ourselves and stop believing the lie that sexism is dead.
and this is for all the men out there: no means no. and the absence of no does not mean yes.
inspiring friends: my friend bekah and i. we attended a lecture yesterday that inspired many of these thoughts. soon i will have her guest star here- i love her style!
so what do i do to deal with everyday sexist pre-judgements? i think WWLGD: what would lady gaga do? she's a great example of a powerful woman for our current times. praise her weirdness and her daily inspiration in my life.
tumblr
