Rotten Little Girls

Being born and growing up in the U.S in a traditional Asian family is tough; women have to be dressed modestly and be “perfect” in every way. Cooking and cleaning, taking care of siblings and kids, and look good. That’s tough enough but I’m also growing up in a society where everything is judged and labeled. No one is able to express themself without being labeled, no one is able to say what they want to say without being criticized. My family makes it harder, and growing up as a rebel, I had pretty much gotten use to the fact of being judged, criticized, and treated like dirt in my family because I’m not a ‘modest’ girl. I can’t get dressed in peace, having people at my back scolding me for wearing something as simple as jeans and a hoodie. While my brother, who is wearing ripped jeans is just walking down the stairs like an innocent child.

I rarely go out and hang out with my friends, only going out once every 7 or 8 months, anything more than that, I earn a 2 hour long lecture, and somehow the topic of how not modest I am comes up in that lecture. While my brother, who is 2 years younger then me, is going and hanging out with someone everyday, and doesn’t get lectured for going with someone else’s parents to a town an hour away from where we live for a week. Every single friend that I have, they have a word to say about every single one of them. But my brother’s friend come and go as they want.

One day while searching blogs on google, I came across this religious blog and it pissed me off when I saw this guy say, women are the weaker of the two, and the man of the family should be the one to control the woman, and have the power. It pissed me off so much I went on a rage temper for 2 hours, taking my anger out on the walls…leaving holes in it–living in an urban area teaches you how to fight well.

I firmly believe that a woman should have as much equal rights as a man, they go through pain like giving birth and taking care of kids. If boys were to one day feel the pain of giving birth and or the annoyance of periods, then they might understand us better. It annoys me how guys go around showing their well tones muscles off and showing how strong they are. Or, when guys go out with girls and when they get her pregnant, they won’t accept the responsiblity and ditch her. And rapists and molesters go around touching and raping girls and leaving her there to die and suffer painfully. And a woman gets up in the morning getting ready and primping around in front of the mirror for two hours to look nice, and a guy barely does much but shower and blow dry here and there and still look nice, and a woman STILL get criticism for things.

Yes, I am young, only 13, and some people may say this is only a young kid’s rant but, I am proud to say what I stand up for and what I believe in. I am not ashamed of being called a bitch, I am not ashamed of having to say fuck you, and I am not ashamed of saying what I am saying. A person is always a person, even if they’re a boy or a girl, they should always be treated equally the only difference between these two is one have a dick.

- Nikki

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The “Why I Became a Feminist” series is open to anyone who identifies as feminist and wants to share their story. Please email me at rottenlittlegirls @ gmail.com and I will consider publishing your piece in this series. I’d love to have a broad range of voices and experiences.

Check out the rest of the series!