The Sad Reality About #WhatIWishISaid | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

The Sad Reality About #WhatIWishISaid

There's a reason women are keeping their mouths shut

13
The Sad Reality About #WhatIWishISaid
Pexels

As you may have seen online on International Women's Day, women around the world tweeted sexist scenarios that they have encountered alongside the hashtag #WhatIWishISaid. Just follow the hashtag, and you'll find a slew of examples:

"Just because I wear skirts, dresses and shorts doesn't mean you can whistle at me like a dog." - @mikkay

"'No, it's not because I have a boyfriend. I'm just not interested.'" - @georginamerhom

"I'm only laughing at your sexist jokes because you won't leave me alone and I have to be friendly, it's my job." - @JillySpach

By the huge number of tweets with this hashtag, it's evident that women leave a lot unsaid. International Women's Day is a great opportunity to make those statements clear, but will it actually change how we respond to situations as they happen? In certain scenarios, maybe. But when you really think about it, there's a reason we leave things unsaid.

Fear.

I don't have enough fingers to count how many times I've been whistled or yelled at on the street, but I've never said anything in response. Why you ask? Well, it's because of the way my stomach drops -- the way it twists and shrinks in on itself when I think of worst-case scenarios. What if I make some sort of retort and that guy has a gun? What if he shoots me? What if he abducts me or rapes me? So, I stare straight ahead every time. I continue walking, praying that he doesn't follow.

Similarly, women are hesitant to be frank about whether or not they're interested in someone. When a creepy guy expresses interest, rather than simply saying I'm not interested, I'll come up with an excuse (i.e. the time-old boyfriend excuse). Why can't we just be honest? Why can't we just say we're not interested? Again, it comes down to fear, and another flood of worst-case scenarios. What if I hurt his feelings? What if he gets angry and drugs me? What if he stalks me and tries to murder me because I said I'm not interested? You get the point.

And we don't just fear for our lives. We also fear for our jobs. According to The Huffington Post, "one in three women has experienced sexual harassment at work at some point [in] their lives." The article goes on to reveal that of the surveyed women who said they'd been sexually harassed at work, "29 percent reported the issue while 71 percent did not." In other words, a majority of women are choosing to keep their mouths shut. In this case, the lack of action resides in the fear of being fired, or the fear of not getting that promotion even though you're more qualified than your male counterpart. We do everything we can to avoid lessening our chances of further success. We often decide not to call out higher-ups when they make sexist comments or inappropriately invade our personal bubbles because they're the ones who make the decisions. We try not to mention children because it might be perceived as a distraction from work.

As a result, we torment over what we should have, could have said or done. And, as of right now, I think we're going to keep tormenting over those thoughts. That is, until we no longer live in this state of perpetual fear. That is, until we feel safe.

I won't feel safe until parents teach their sons to respect women -- to treat us as the human beings we are, rather than as objects. I won't feel safe until parents teach their daughters to support other women rather than tear them down. I won't feel safe until more people stand up to sexist behavior, men included.

Then -- maybe then -- we'll say what we wish we would have said.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2993
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1800
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201062
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21449
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments