I shouldn't have to be scared or worried about ordering an uber. I shouldn't have to fear the driver, if he'll lock me in his car. I shouldn't have to police myself on what I wear when I take the T. No one should be looking at me passing by but they do. They whistle, try to say "hello" or shout comments like "nice ass!" which only encourages me to walk faster and keep my head up. My mother shouldn't have to worry about me going out and if I come home late, but she does. She fears for my safety especially at night, but not even the daytime can protect me. I'm just not safe. Why? Because I'm a young woman.

I was raised to be educated and to learn how to take care of myself, as well as cook and clean. I wasn't taught to cook and clean for a man, I was taught so I could be self-sufficient. However, in society’s eyes, I'm expected to cook a meal for a man, fix his plate, and wash his dish. It doesn't even matter if I don't have a boyfriend, I need to serve a man whether it be my father or my brother. Domesticity is meant to keep me in the home, confined to one area.

I slowly realized that I live in a male dominated world. I often think about my future and when I get a job and later launch my career, I'll be making 77 cents to the dollar a male colleague would make. Men don't get pregnant so a person in power could easily give a raise or promotion to a man, they don’t have to go on maternity leave. Why should I make less than a man even if I work twice as hard? Why is it already predetermined that I'm going to get pregnant at some point in my life? It's not fair and it doesn't make sense. I am my own person and I can make my own decisions.

As a Latina, my race is often fetizied and seen as desriable. The porn industry, which caters to men, hasn't helped. “Latina” is one of the most searched items. There are these misconceptions that if a woman is a Latina, she has to have an amazing body, speak fluent Spanish, and knows how to cook well. These misconceptions have gotten to a point that if I mention I’m Latina to the wrong guy, he’ll go off and respond misogynistically. It's disgusting. I am proud of my roots and where I came from, the last thing I need is a man telling me “that's hot.” Comments like that make my stomach hurt.

I’ve also noticed how interesting it is when people find out I’ve never had a boyfriend. I remember a guy I was talking to actually felt bad for me because I've never had one. Men aren’t the only ones with this mentality though. A woman doctor asked me before if I even felt attracted to men or anyone for that matter because I've never had a boyfriend. I just simply never really felt the need. I don’t know why that’s a reason to have pity for someone. Frankly, a relationship seemed like more of a headache to me than anything. I wasn't worried about not having one. If being assertive really frightens men, I thought to myself I don't need one if he expects me to play this docile role. I demand to be my own person.

My mother was the one who introduced to feminism at a young age and who I consider a force of nature in my life. She came from Ecuador, a third world country to the United States, a first world country with my older brother who was roughly two years old at the time. My father was already working and my mother started to work as soon as she came here. When I was born, my mother became the sole breadwinner of our family. My father took on the role of a “stay-at-home dad” and took care of me. With this dynamic in place, my mother taught me to reject gender roles, to be independent, and told me that I could do anything, just as man could. I am truly privileged to reside in a first world country where I have the same opportunities as a man. I can obtain a higher level of education, there’s no cut-off time.

Women, in my opinion, are powerful forces of nature. We feel entrapped by society. Nevertheless, I believe there are just as many freedoms. I am able to express myself through mediums such as fashion, makeup, pop culture, politics, etc. From the beginning of recorded history, to the suffrage movement, to the waves of feminism, to the present where a nominee for the President of the United States is a woman and every time period in between, there are so many examples where I’ve learned about women bypassing entrapment so I will and I can too.

After all, the future is female.