Week in week out I churn out between 350-700 words for the column you are reading right now, it takes me time, effort and sometimes hours of procrastination until I can start. This week I want to write a letter, a letter to all the men out there, fathers, brothers, uncles, boyfriends, husbands, sons, the guy best friends, I’m writing to each and every one of you so please, please read carefully.
Dear Men,
I’m a woman, a young woman who you may or may not know personally and I want to ask and explain a few things to you in regards to my sexuality. If you’re married, then you’ll know what it’s like to live with a woman, it may be hard at times but I promise you living with a man whomever you may be isn’t easy either. It takes a lot of courage and patience, especially if you’re a man who doesn’t like to communicate very much. If I could take a journey inside a man’s mind and find out what at least one of you thinks about, besides work, sex or friends, I think life not only for me but for all us women out there would be a whole lot easier.
I’d find out what a man thinks when he looks a woman in a revealing dress up and down, but gets angry and jealous when another man does it to the woman beside him. Funny isn’t it, I bet none of you ever thought of it that way did you? Let me take this opportunity to tell you all something, we women aren’t objects, we don’t like being stared at like we’re a piece of meat nor do we find a man who shouts out: “Alright sexy?” as we walk passed you on an evening out. Women in the media may be portrayed attractive, provocative and even as sexy as they possibly can be if you like, but that does not mean we should be treated as sex symbols, we’re human too. Take the make-up off, throw on a pair of tracksuits, tie the hair back in a bun and stick a cap on our heads, you’ll find it tricky to tell us apart from behind.
I want to ask why as men you think it’s okay that women should be controlled, that a woman cannot be as successful as a man, or how on earth you can carry out such horrific acts like rape, physical and verbal abuse or treating her as though she has to wait on your hand and foot? You wouldn’t like it if someone in your family was raped, if your wife was verbally attacked by complete stranger or if your father used your mother as punch bag every time he lost his patience would you?! I didn’t think so.
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not somebody who likes to only criticise men. My Dad is my hero, flaws and all and always will be, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t change some of his doings if I could. Nobody is perfect, but we live in world today where men dominate, men are in power, where “it’s a man’s job”, where men and women aren’t equally treated the way they should be.
So I politely ask this of all you men out there, next time you look, speak or act towards a woman whomever it may be just remember that she is your most sacred treasure. She is a mother, a sister, a daughter, a wife, an auntie and a friend, she is brave, strong, courageous, hard-working, tired and fights battles you know nothing about.
Please be respectful and handle us with care, we’re more fragile than you could ever imagine.
Warmest regards,
A woman…
