Society's vision

 Society has a vision - a vision of what they want their women to be. They scorn and ostracize anyone who goes against that, who defies the "Status Quo". Because you must be smart but not too smart, thin but not malnourished, thick but not fat, athletic but also dainty, not boy crazy but not boring either. They expect you to be everything and nothing all at once. Society teaches women that our bodies are not our own, that we are expected to have a family otherwise our purpose in life is not fulfilled. Because according to them,  women were put on this earth simply for 2 things - a man or a child. 

By the time she turns 7, she's told that when she gets her hair pulled or gets teased by a boy, he likes her. By the time she turns 10 she's either called bossy and loud or 'a pleasure to have in class'. By the time she turns 12 she knows that soon she'll be asked if she has a boyfriend. By the time she turns 16, she knows - she expects - that she will be catcalled and harassed on the street for her looks. By the time she's turned 18, she's told to suck it up because no matter what she does - "It's a man's world". By the time she turn's 20, she realizes that no matter how hard she works she will simply not make as much as a man. By the time she's 26 she's asked "So, when are you having a baby?". As soon as she's a mother, she's expected to stay at home, take care of the child, forget about her career. And if she's not a mother, she's asked "What will you do for the rest of your life?" or "What if your husband wants children?".

Because she does not matter if she's not a mother, she does not matter if she's not a wife, she does not matter if she has a voice and something to say and she does not matter if she decides it's her choice to live her life the way she wants to. Because she does not matter if she isn't exactly what society wants her to be.

Young girls growing up in this world think they do not matter. We need to show them that they do. Be loud, be bossy, take up space. You matter. Don't let anyone define you and what you can or cannot do. Be firm, be strong. Be who you want to be and do what you want to do. Not who society thinks you should be and what they want you to do.