Okay, let me start this by saying I just got done with a 3 hour class last night focusing around gender. It is definitely a topic I feel strongly about seeing as I’m a girl and can very greatly see the differences between men and women.
Now, for a short story-
I got into work this morning and was checking my e-mail. I replied to one and got a response back with the first line reading “Dear Brian,”. Now, normally I don’t really care if people forget to add the last letter to my name. It’s something that happens so often in e-mails, especially at my job (I work in the taxes department of a human resource company), that I usually can overlook it and assume people are just moving too quickly. Well, for some reason, it really bothered me this morning.
I understand that we live in a fast paced world, but people should at least try to look at my signature and spell my name correctly. After this class, I realized that people put certain jobs and things into categories. I work in taxes for an HR company; this job would usually be one that a man holds. When people are frantically looking to reply to my e-mails, they just assume I’m a man and after scanning my name, they drop the “a”. Apparently I’m Brian because Briana could just never handle working in taxes. Obviously, this is an idea and a concept that absolutely needs to change.
I am a feminist. I support the equality and rights of all women. I support changing the minds and social culture of those around us. I believe that women are just as bright and just as strong as men. BUT, I do not think that men are awful. I don’t want to take them down. I shave my legs. I wear make-up. My favorite item of clothing is a dress. I am sick of hearing that I can’t do something because I’m a woman; that I can’t be something because I’m a woman; that I can achieve something because I’m a woman.
I am not some haggard, anti-grooming woman. I just simply want people to understand that women deserve the same opportunities and respect as our male counterparts. And, quite honestly, I just want people to realize that there can be an “a” at the end of my name, and I can still work in the taxes department of a human resource company.
Bri Car 