Your Voices

It's funny, I never really thought that I would be standing from a feminestic point of view on things. I was always raised to belive that I can do anything that a boy can do. Needless to say I have. At 16, I have heard comments how "women belong in the kitchen", how I can't lift something because it's too heavy for a girl.

When I was little my grandfather always made sure i did the same things as my males cousins. When it came time for fixing the roof I was up there with him. I hammered nails, and heaven forbid did I actually learn how to use a saw. My mother never opposed, and I'm very happy that I know how to do such things till this day.

Until recently I did not realize that even though women have come along way, we're still working at it. I guess it's just hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Because I have a female teacher who would not let me do thing for this haunted house we were building because it involved climbing on the roof, too dangerous for a girl. It made me so frustrated. When it came time to writing a final paper on the project I voiced my opinion on how i felt. She didn't say a word, not a single thing. But in the mean time I had discussed this with other girls in my class, and they understood. So with my teacher not understanding, I got more to understand me by just voicing my opinion. I also came to this conclusion which i sort of live by, "I can do anything boys can do, if not better."
--Becky Salen, WestDncr@aol.com, January10, 1999.

The one value my mother really instilled in me as I was growing up was that of choice. She told me, if I have the choice, and deep in my heart it is really what I want to do, then it is right. I don't think enough girls today know they have all of the choices in the world open to them. You can be anything you want, and no one can stop you. If you reach obstacles on t\your path to success, it is just something else to work on- another goal to reach.
--Michelle Newman

I think that there are more and more problems in the USA because of Hollywood, etcetera. Every girl and teenager now thinks the image and how you are suppose to be like is like a really skinny model and that's why we are facing more anorexia problems. I would like to send this message: It doesn't matter what you look like, fat or skinny , love yourself as much as you can and don't be influenced of models that probably have more problems than you, like anorexia or something, you are beautiful! No matter what anyone says!
--Alyssa Marie Ramirez

At age 14 now, I am a total tom-boy. A lot of guys out here don't really like it and neither do some of my good friends. They say.. "You need to dress more like a girl, and not a guy" "wear make up, then you'll get a boyfriend". To them, they want me to be like them, I've told them, this is me, and you aren't me. I've been a tom-boy most of my life and people have picked on me for it. I love me, and nobdy else can know the true me until they understand me.
--Katie Anderson, Alderaankt@aol.com, June 25, 1999.