Women Are People Too

women standing together

Women should stick together and stand up for each other. 

But instead, women can be catty and petty towards each other, women can become jealous and covet what another woman has, women blame each other for occurrences that weren't their fault, women shame each other for the clothes that they wear and the way they choose to express themselves, and women are often the first to point fingers when an accusation of sexual assault or harassment comes up. 

Survivors of sexual assault and those that were made to endure sexual harassment face enough re-victimization from law enforcement and court officials doubting their story and questioning their choice of dress and behavior that they don't need other women to shame them and send accusations their way. If women can't depend on other women (a group of people that should be the most understanding and sympathetic to their situation), then who can they expect to believe them? The last thing they need from the women in their lives is to question whether or not they were drinking, if they initiated the first move, if they were wearing a short skirt or a low cut top. Even if the answer to all those questions is yes, what the hell difference does it make? No means no. 

Women should be able to depend on other women to believe and support them without having accusations thrown at them. 

This notion of women standing together goes beyond believing instances of sexual assault and harassment. How often does a man cheat on his girlfriend or wife and said girlfriend or wife automatically blames the other woman for trying to ruin her relationship? I hate to break it to you but the other woman isn't always aware that the man they are seeing is already in a relationship, but you know who is? The man. He knows that he's stepping out on his woman, and he thinks it's all fine and dandy just as long as he doesn't get caught. The other woman isn't always at fault, but the man is so be mad at him. And if the situation is reversed, a woman finds out that the man she's seeing is married or has a girlfriend. End it. Tell the wife or girlfriend. You're both worth more than that and deserve better than a man who isn't devoted to you or honest with you. 

Another issue I want to raise is that women should not blame other women for how they look or how they are treated because of how they look. A woman's physical attributes should not be mistook as an invitation to unwanted and unwarranted sexual comments or touches/gropes/fondles/etc. I'm reminded of that scene from Legally Blonde when Professor Callahan makes a pass at Elle and Vivian witnesses it assuming that Elle is using her looks to get ahead when in actuality Elle did not want to be the subject of his advances and rejected him. To me this is a perfect example of how women get accused of using their looks to advance their careers. Just because a woman is society's definition of attractive does not mean that she asked to be harassed by coworkers, or bosses, or professors. Just because a woman is society's definition of attractive does not mean that she isn't intelligent, skilled, and just as capable of doing the job as anybody else. Women shouldn't have prejudices against other women because of how they look. You shouldn't assume that a woman is an airhead just because she's pretty, and you shouldn't assume that just because a woman is pretty that she asked for it.    

The bottom line is that women are already valued less than men in today's society, so they should be able to rely on other women (their peers) for comfort and support. To all women, don't throw accusations at other women for things that they have no control over and stick up for each other. Stand together.

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A/N

Hey you guys! I really appreciate you taking the time to read this and for voting and leaving a comment. It just melts my heart at all the sweet comments I've received! I'm going to be going through and revising previous chapters because in some instances I felt that I didn't get the point across that I wanted to make. 

I hope you enjoy this chapter, and let's keep the conversation going! 

Just do you, and don't let anyone dull your sparkle, 

Shannon =)