While I can be told of the prejudices black people face, I will never experience it for myself. People can dislike or hate me because of my skin color, but my life is not in danger because of it. If anything, I am more in danger due to my gender, as the society we live in is more favorable to men than women. Even though my personal experiences are not as dangerous as others, I still understand and realize the smaller instances of sexism that lead to far more consequential outcomes. I am safe because I am white; I am lesser because I am a woman.
In the May of my senior year of high school, my graduating class took a trip to Denver, Colorado. We walked into a restaurant for dinner only to have all eyes on us as we entered and headed straight …show more content…
It has also taken me until recently to realize that that was the cause, and not because of anything I could change about myself. I have had close female friends be harassed, be denied appropriate service, or even be abused. They were expected to forgive the man at fault for his actions, because they “lead him on” or “were asking for it.” (Two phrases I have come to detest with a passion.) An incident for me personally, though not as harsh, happened just recently. In this passed November, I performed in MSU’s production of The Trojan Women as Helen of Troy. In the show, a veil covers my face as I enter, then I remove it to reveal my appearance to the crowd. All of the other women in the show were made up to look sickly or otherwise unappealing, but I had a “glamorous” look to my make up. On the Friday of our performances, we did a show for local junior high kids. Upon my reveal, there were immediate whistles and catcalls from the audience. During the part where I fall to my knees begging for my life, there were even more. The age group it was coming from made it even more disgusting for me to experience. This occurrence, while neither uncommon or the worst thing for many women, is just one that sticks in my brain. I know that, had I been a man in a similar role, the depth of the situation in the play might have been taken more seriously, and overall, I
In the May of my senior year of high school, my graduating class took a trip to Denver, Colorado. We walked into a restaurant for dinner only to have all eyes on us as we entered and headed straight …show more content…
It has also taken me until recently to realize that that was the cause, and not because of anything I could change about myself. I have had close female friends be harassed, be denied appropriate service, or even be abused. They were expected to forgive the man at fault for his actions, because they “lead him on” or “were asking for it.” (Two phrases I have come to detest with a passion.) An incident for me personally, though not as harsh, happened just recently. In this passed November, I performed in MSU’s production of The Trojan Women as Helen of Troy. In the show, a veil covers my face as I enter, then I remove it to reveal my appearance to the crowd. All of the other women in the show were made up to look sickly or otherwise unappealing, but I had a “glamorous” look to my make up. On the Friday of our performances, we did a show for local junior high kids. Upon my reveal, there were immediate whistles and catcalls from the audience. During the part where I fall to my knees begging for my life, there were even more. The age group it was coming from made it even more disgusting for me to experience. This occurrence, while neither uncommon or the worst thing for many women, is just one that sticks in my brain. I know that, had I been a man in a similar role, the depth of the situation in the play might have been taken more seriously, and overall, I