The first thing I was ever told was that I was a girl
I was told that I could never climb trees or ride bikes, but instead stay at home and play pretend with barbies because I was fragile
I was told to wait for prince charming because he would come and save me
I was told to dress up like a princess for halloween instead of a superhero because, god forbid, people would think that I was abnormal
I was told that girls like pink and boys like blue because that’s just the way things are
I was told that I could not play tennis because that simply was not something girls did
I was limited, restrained and constricted with no escape
All because I was a girl
I was told I had to walk a certain way, talk a certain way, and act a certain way because I should be the epitome of perfection
I was told I had to be pretty with flawless skin and a zero size body
I was told to watch what I eat because one extra piece of candy or one extra slice of pizza would make me undesirable
I was told my height had to be 5’6 and my weight had to 120 pounds, unattainable
I was told to be quiet when there was a serious discussion about politics going on, because my opinion did not matter
I was limited, restrained and constricted with no escape
All because I was a girl
I was told that I could not become a doctor because I am supposed to take care of the household
I was told that people could use me and take advantage of me, but I should still remain silent
I was told that I was a burden to my parents and the only way to get rid of me, marry me off
I was told that the best gift I could ever give someone was finding a good husband
I was told that I stood for a sex symbol, that people could just throw me out when the job was done
I was told that I could never be in charge of the finances of the family, because that is what guys do
I was told to wear turtlenecks and jeans (not the jeans that were too tight) because even a little bit of skin showing might put me at risk or might seem provoking to men
I was limited, restrained and constricted with no escape
All because I was a girl
Because although I am human, I am not equal
Because my gender comes before my abilities
Because my gender dictates my life from start to finish
Because people see my gender before they see the real me
Because I am a girl
And that’s just the way it is
“I did everything he did backwards, and in heels”
– Ginger Rogers