My Point by Mariah Fields

Why am I labeled “VICTIM” because of my

appearance, because of my gender, because of my

features? Typically when people hear the word

Woman they think fragile, soft, etc etc… Basically

someone with no intentions in standing up or

having a voice. I THINK NOT! I’m a woman. A strong

woman, whose been through hell and back but still I

stand. Why am I categorized as someone unworthy

of being equal to another human being ? Should I

step down, shut my mouth, and accept how I’ve

been treated ? No, I will not. I will not sit there and

be treated as something less than animal even if

I’m dead my point will be made.

Why I Need Feminism by Priscila Acevedo

Cat calls, sexual harassment, rape, looks

People judge woman solely based on their appearance. Clothes and makeup are considered something only worn for attention. Presumably males.

Payment, sexuality, race, body

Woman to this day cannot be considered strong or as hard working as males. They get paid less and many times are hired for beauty and not brains. 

Safe, work, art, media

Being a person for women rights you meet others along the journey and start to feel and realize you’re not the only one feeling the way you do. You see people create and protest and you start to feel proud to be a woman.

Being a girl is hard. Period. It’s hard to do somethings on your own such as grocery shopping or walking down the street. Going out at night is even harder. You have to worry about someone following you or someone putting something in your drink. Rape is also a big reoccurring issue, I fear going to college because of the surprising statistics about how unreported or ignored the girls reports were. There’s always a chance of something or someone taking advantage of you just because you’re a girl. Your parents set boundaries so that you don’t have to go through any danger that might ,”snatch you up out of nowhere.”  Your school has a dress code policy that forbids you of showing your shoulders and knees like it’s going to distract the whole school and cause the fire alarm to go off because the boys are getting too hot off of your shoulder. It’s simply not fair that we can’t do what we want.

The only boundaries you should have  is the boundaries you set.

Overpowered by Daishana Milton

How is someone given so much power?

Are they born with it? 

Or is it acquired by the human  desires that someone promises to make true, 

popularity they get, because of they think on their feet and try to appeal to the people they know will listen? 

Giving him all their ears in exchange for dreams or how our way of life should be. 

It's funny everyone gives that person a little power some power half power or all power 

No one will change even with a lot to say 

No one will fix it even with all the tools 

Do we have no breaking point? 

That all mighty the end 

Or do we continue the trend of all past family members and old friends? 

Women need power. Blacks need power. Whites need power. Why do most feel powerless? 

Under surrender yet, no one gives up. How is everyone so strong? But a shot of pain make everyone feel small?

Do you stand tall? or do you pass the ball? Time is almost up. 

Do you give up? 

Time ran out. Guess what? You're stuck. 

Just "Another" Woman (monologue) by Faith Smith

Ladies…I know for sure we’ve all been here. You know what I’m talking about. Yeah, when men say you’re just “another woman.” What does that mean? I’m glad you asked. That means that we’re just another ordinary female waltzing the earth, nothing at all interesting to the eye or sparking the mind. You know what I think about that? I’m glad you asked again. I think that’s some…. mess. You know why? I really like the questions you keep asking. It’s some mess because every woman has something unique about them. You might have all the brains in the world, the next one might have the sweetest heart a man could find, then one way down South might be spunky and spontaneous. Then up North, you’ll find one who is civil and pleasant. Then you will run into one that’s carefree and wild, like a loose cannon. Nonetheless, no woman is just another “woman.”

So, guess what? Next time you get that you’re “just another woman,” know that you’re much more than that. You’re beautiful, you’re empowered, you’re funny, you’re intelligent, your kind, you’re gracious, and so much more. So, fellas, are we still “just another woman”? Would you like it if I said you were “just another man”? Okay, then. Watch what you say to a woman and when to say it, because you never know what you’ll get yourself into. Any more questions?

No Blame by Kaylia Walker

I personally feel that it would be foolish to blame all the reasoning for sexism on one gender. I feel it is a hand in hand relationship between the two genders. See I have sat down, thought about it, and reconsidered some things to look at them in a different manner. As females we are told that a "real man" or a "gentleman" should hold the door open for you when you are walking in or pull out your seat before you sit down and as a child I remember my grandma would not dare touch a door handle if her husband was not there to get it and then her eldest grandson knew it was his job. She would often tell stories of how she would have the food all nice and hot on the table when her husband got home from work she would say "Ladies make sure that there is food on the table after work," and maybe this is the problem now we've become too dependent on men after hearing things like that or maybe men have became so proud of themselves that they cannot help but feel like women need them, and let us face the fact that us females like when the man holds the door open for us or pulls out our seat and maybe even when they take the control of things, it makes us feel all warm on the inside like we are catching butterflies for him all over again and we probably even think to ourselves "what a perfect gentleman," but what we really do not realize is some men think we can't do it for ourselves, that we need them to do it for us so at the same time their being a perfect gentleman and taking control of things we, my lovely individual female friend are simply losing our control to show them that we are independent women and although it is nice and appreciated that you take us in consideration to do a few things for us we do not need you to do everything.

When the Lady Wakes by Faith Smith

     I knew this little girl, she was someone I once was afraid of. She was someone that I tried my hardest to run away from because I was afraid that she would become who I am today. I was once not smart, and I was once not as hopeful. That little girl was the inner cries I made within myself that were my screams of agony and pain. That little girl held everything inside, and made her pillow her tissue as she cried at night. That little girl was alone, never letting anyone in and never making a place to call home. That little girl was a little too late. She was someone who no one seen, invisible, to everybody. She was the kind of girl that was shy. She was someone who never created, only stood by on the side. She didn’t like to be bothered with people who didn’t matter to her life, and she dropped anyone who didn’t prove her loyalty to her the way she did to them. She faced depression, never letting anyone truly know that her heart was now nonexistent. People blamed her for things she never did. They made her feel like she wasn’t good enough. People and things replaced her, and she was always left out. People made her feel like she was ugly, like she was poor because they would brag about their luxuries and make her feel like since she didn’t have it, she didn’t belong anymore. She was only paid attention to when she is needed—people used and abused her and when she needed them, their backs were turned and they couldn’t hear her. They would talk about her behind her backs and smile in her face, making her feel like she was always overreacting or stupid or being naïve. She had anger issues, she had something conflicting in her. She tried to explain, but nobody would try to hear her. She admitted her wrongs, apologized, and tried to do right. Still, she was overlooked and people made her feel like she still wasn’t living up to the part of life.

     Then one day, she woke up. Now, I’m standing tall, attempting to keep my head up high. I don’t care to have a heart of gold, because you see where that got the inner girl of mine? Now, I can’t see you, because you didn’t hear me. I can’t see you, because you didn’t see me. I don’t love you, because you treated me as if I was something unwanted that got stepped on and stuck to the bottom of a shoe. I don’t care for you, because you let me know you never cared for me.  I’m still lonely, but I would rather be that then make myself delusional to think that I would always have someone to care about me. You see, this lady is finally awake. I’ve realized this world is a cold, cold place. I’m not sorry anymore, because I’ve apologized several times. I never got my apology, so I don’t want you to look me in my eyes. I noticed that when certain people come around, I no longer exist. So, when I see you in passing now, I walk right past you. Not a sound from my mouth, not a peep from you too. I’m no longer making myself believe something that’s not true, because I would rather be intelligent than a stupid following fool. 

Witness All Ye Power by Laquita Parker

 As the cold wind breaks , and water freezes over

A voice rises to the scene to be heard by all

Equality it speaks , power it holds

For the voice is of a woman and her struggle all knows

Singing the truth as she destroys all stereotypes

So come forth and witness ye power and all ye might

Her spirit of gold shines its bright  light

Darkness is unheard of and cold is no more

All evil has witness and bowed down before

So praise her for worth and the child she carries

For she bares the gift of life

Lets give her all women’s rights

Foster Girls by Priscila Acevedo

            Movies are one of my favorite past times. They contain a person's whole life, theatrically, in 90 minutes or more. They are meant to be entertaining, incorporating a vast amount of emotions such as sadness, happiness, anger etc. The effects movies have on people is just as important, if not more than the ratings they get.  Especially if the movie is a good influence. 

               One day I stumbled upon a movie I vaguely remember but it caught my attention entirely. It was a story about a little girl who's parents were very abusive and disillusioned as to what is going on due to drugs. She was 5 years old with a little brother. Her father used to beat her mother and her. Her mother was an alcoholic and didn't do anything about the Father's actions. Eventually her parents got arrested so her brother and her got put into foster care. 

                 She began to act out in anger and became more attached to her brother and would not let him go especially if adults were around. They came around often. Since they had a lot of visitors her worst fears came true and one day her brother was taken by 2 nice looking people. It seemed like nobody wanted her because of her out bursts and because she was a girl. No one wanted to go through the "Hormonal" and stressful outbursts that come with having a girl. She had trust issues and only had herself until she met a woman that looked like she was in her 40's , she gave her hope and made her feel loved.

            I could not understand her pain, and it made me really think about how a person "adult" could treat a child that's only lived a few years and can barely understand their name or situation. Girls are more prone to rape than boys are. Which means they suffer from depression, anxiety, a fear of trusting anybody. I really want understand this corrupt system that includes sexism and hate. People cannot get away with sending these kids to homes just to gain a few bucks. Raising awareness is just one step to helping a cause that is not recognized widely.