*que Peggy Olson on Mad Men not giving a single F as she moves into her new office with a ciggy hangin’ out*
I’ve always been super independent, even as a kid. I was pretty mischievous and independent. It was practically protocol for me to wander off in the grocery store or Blockbuster or -name a place-. But, I remember I didn’t do it for attention, except when I’d run away from home, I’d write a note and make them read it lol. Anyways, I remember wandering off because I’d just see something I wanted to check out so I’d go do it by myself because I felt like I didn’t need anyone to come with me or even know I was going. Call it ADD, call it curiosity, call it independence, call it whatever you want. I did stuff like that just because I wanted to.
My parents never told me I couldn’t do something because I was a girl. They let me play street hockey with my brother and his friends, play on the trampoline with them and participate in general debauchery with them. I wasn’t a tomboy, I wasn’t a girly-girl though either. I just did what I wanted and dressed how I wanted. Seriously, my mom tried to make me wear bows in family pictures as like a 2 year old and I literally ripped them out… like with a chunk of hair… that’s dedication. Anyways, I’m just trying to convey the message that my parents never made me label myself as one or the other, they let me run free because they trusted me and they let my adventurous nature take hold.
It wasn’t until I guess middle school when I started to notice that people inherently associated differences between boys and girls. The first thing that comes to mind is that standardized physical fitness test they made us do in school, the Presidential benchmark or something? Can’t remember. Anyways, I remember a friend of mine (a girl) was super athletic, a soccer superstar. During the shuttle runs, she and one boy made it to the very end. She stopped and then he did one more just to beat her. They beat all of us by a staggering amount, they were both super athletic. But, I remember one of the teachers saying “wow, she did so good for a girl!” Like whaaaa?
Like, what does that even mean? “For a girl…” is such an idiotic statement. Only two kids made it that far! Why should her accomplishment somehow mean more just because she’s a girl? That’s when I realized that, as girls, we are expected to somehow be less capable at a lot of things. Once I noticed it here, I noticed it everywhere and virtually through every era of my life. In high school, in college, at work. Don’t get me wrong, I know a lot of people don’t mean to separate girls from boys like that all the time, but its hard to ignore.
Because of how I was brought up, not ever separating myself from boys in what they can do and what I can do, its weird to see other girls count themselves out sometimes.
I think I’ve proved myself in college, I’m in the top 10% of my class and absolutely love what I study. However, the advertising industry is pretty male dominated…yay. Luckily, where I worked this summer was pretty good at having a 50/50 work environment. Actually, 7/8 interns I worked with were girls GRL PWR. But, I know many other agencies are a little bit more old school–a boy’s club if you will. I’m not trying to cause a scene or come in like a feminist wrecking ball; I just know what I can do and I don’t see how I’m any different from a guy who can do the same thing. Honesty, I’m probably more charming and tactful than him. So I’m a win-win, really.
I’m sure you’re wondering how all of this ties together. Well, my dedicated reader, my point is this: if you are female, stop counting yourself out just because you have 2 X chromosomes instead of XY. I’m so grateful that my parents just let me be as a kid. I’m thankful that it was never a question if I could do what the boys were doing. I’m thankful that they let me keep my rebellious spirit (even tho I sucked when I was 16-17, I’m sorry mom & dad for being such a diva once I got my license). I’m thankful that I grew up in Texas where everyone embraces that same kind of independent spirit. I’m thankful I got to study abroad and push myself even more because, yeah, I have become even more independent and self-reliant. I didn’t even know that was possible.
So, ladies, this isn’t a feminist rant, its just an attempted wakeup call! You can literally do anything a guy does. The only thing standing in your way is you. The other important part of this is to celebrate your accomplishments as a human, as a person, as a student, as a professional– the fact that your a woman shouldn’t matter, it shouldn’t make your accomplishment even greater somehow. Basically, stop thinking so much, stop thinking about stereotypes, stop thinking about other people’s BS so much and just do what you wanna do. Go wander off in Blockbuster, go for that job at that law firm. just. do. you. Be Peggy.
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Read more from Meaghan at https://meaghanshus.wordpress.com/
To find out more about her exchange program at Aarhus School of Business in Denmark, visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/exchange/wcobaarhus
Read more from Meaghan at https://meaghanshus.wordpress.com/
