If there is one thing I have learned as a young woman in my late teenage years and early twenties, it is that almost every woman I have met has their own stories of sexual harassment. It is almost so common for a woman to become a victim to her own body being trespassed, it makes me wonder- why is this experience almost inevitable for women to be susceptible too? I have met so many. No matter the age, race, sexuality, personality, attractiveness- there is no one trait a woman has that prevents her from this violence. It is disgustingly universal among us.
According to an American nation-wide statistic, 81% of women claim to have expirenced some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime. One in five American women have stated that they have expirenced attempted or completed rape in their life in a 2021 statistic. Almost 80% of this population claims this happened before the age of 25 years old.
To give you a better idea, that is
132,840,000 American women,
that have fallen victim to sexual harassment.
With the awareness of the high volume and probability of this happening to women, I have made sure to transform myself into someone who Is capable of being soft and kind, but will take no shit. It is challenging to change yourself into someone who can be apart of the two extremes. Most people believe if you are openly kind, you are vulnerable. This being a type of vulnerability that you come off as someone who can't "handle yourself", or stand your ground. Of course, keep in mind about the fact of being too kind can attribute to one becoming a pushover.
But I am here to tell you that while kindness to others is polite and necessary, you need to carry yourself powerfully. And no- Im not talking about barking at any man that looks your way. You are a woman. Men will inevitably look. It does not matter what you are wearing, who you are with or where you are. Be aware of possible negative intensions, but do not think every man is out to get you. In other words, be friendly, but with a fire. Strike up a conversation with him, sure, but carry your energy that you are absolutely capable of saying no, if you please. Your voice is your strength. Men fear powerful women- don't forget it.
