What About My Feelings ?

source: pixabay

This piece was written from a place of frustration, exhaustion, and reflection after realizing how often women are punished simply for speaking up

Sometimes I gaslight myself for wanting better for myself, for standing up and speaking about what bothers me, because for so long I have been labeled as “evil” for defending myself or even defending others.

People will abuse you, speak badly about you behind your back, and still expect you to receive it with grace. Don’t respond. Don’t react. Just let it go. But what about my feelings? What about my rights? Who gives people the right to tarnish my name and expect me to simply walk away in silence?

Women are often conditioned to suffer quietly. We are taught to endure pain, disrespect, and injustice without speaking up. Yet nearly 1 in 3 women globally experience physical or sexual violence, and less than 40% seek help or report their abuser. Why? Because society shames women for speaking up. They call you difficult, disrespectful, or a home destroyer for exposing the harm done to you.

But what about your life? The bruises you hide for years. The emotional scars you carry in silence. The trauma passed down to the next generation. What about that?

I am tired of the silence. I am tired of people picking on me because they assume I will be too ashamed to speak up. I am tired of people using my voice against me. I am tired of women shaming other women for choosing better for themselves.

I am tired of being a prisoner to silence because I don’t want to be labeled the problematic child. We have to wake up. We have to stand up for our rights and for each other. We have to say enough is enough. What affects one woman affects all women. It is not a “their problem.” It is a WE problem.

I am tired of the hurt. Tired of the pain women suffer in silence. Tired of the abuse we endure.

I want better for women.