Okay. We need to have a chat about equality. What is equality? How do we achieve equality? How far from equality are we? Are we stepping backwards?
I agree, racism and sexism is still alive. But it's a hundred times better than it used to be, and at this point in time it won't get any better if we keep focusing on it. I don't want to get into school because I'm female and there are laws that set a male to female ratio, I want to get in because of my accomplishments, because I worked hard. I want to fill out applications to school and jobs and not check what race and sex I am because they should just look at my accomplishments and talk to my references. When you have standards for the amount of diversity a company or school needs you subject EVERY applicant to discrimination. You white people denied for being white just as often as every other race. You have males being denied because they need more females, you have females being denied by a hospital because a male nurse applied.
My first meeting with an advisor at college I was told that it would be hard for me to get into a veterinary school because so many women apply, that men will get in first. I've also been told that with my two science degrees I would be able to get a different job easily because there aren't many women in science. I don't want people telling me I need to be feminist, that I need to fight for my equality as a woman. I want people to be proud of who I am because I am human and I have accomplishments as a human and I work hard because I have dreams and aspirations, not because I'm trying to prove that women should be equal.
Here's the thing. That is all discrimination. We try so hard to be equal that we end up discriminating against someone else. A black man is killed by a white cop and people say racism. A white man is killed by a white cop people say nothing, then it's just his job. I wholeheartedly, completely believe that if you want to be treated equally you have to consider yourself equal. You can't call racism or sexism, because let me tell you something. If someone is really being sexist or racist towards you, they don't care if you know they are! Those few people think they're better than you and don't care what you think. You're not going to change their mind, so don't sink to their level and DON'T give them the satisfaction of knowing they got to you. Be the bigger person, and prove that you are not defined by your color, your gender, your sexuality, your disability, your body shape, or anything else. Go on with your life, make the most of it and be you. Don't be the names people call you. Don't be the box you have to check when you fill out applications. Live your accomplishments, reach for your dreams, and know who you are. And THAT is all you can do. The world won't see you as equal until that's how you see yourself. And if you constantly bring attention to the fact that you're different, that's what people are going to see you as. Everyone has potential and purpose. And it has nothing to do with what you look like on the outside and everything to do with what really makes you who you are; your passions, your ideas, your intelligence, your talents, and your dreams. Let them see that side of you. Let yourself see that side of you, and honestly if there's someone that can't see you for who you are that's there loss, but I promise you if you live what's on the inside, people will stop noticing what's on the outside and see you as the person you are.
We may never be equal if we don't stop glamorizing discrimination.
We may never be equal if we don't stop glamorizing discrimination.
