We grew up learning valuable life lessons from the people around us
We learned, for instance, to always use our manners, our please and thank you’s
We learned to look both ways before crossing the street for any cars surrounding us
We learned that even if the adults are wrong we bite our tongues and respect our elders
As young ladies, we learned that we’re to scream ‘fire” if we’re being attacked
This taught us that a burning house was more important than society having our backs
We learned that if a man catcalls you, or gropes you on the bus
You’re to politely excuse yourself to take a phone call
After all, we’re to be seen as respectable young ladies, even if respect is never what we receive
As a culture, young men are taught that it is weak to cry
To show emotions at any time, no matter what
They’re always supposed to keep their mouths shut
We never knew any different than these lessons we learned
Our hearts are scarred where the lessons are burned
Our childhoods tainted with these teachings…
So how do you expect to change as a society…when we can’t even change ourselves?