How men are scared of women’s desire to grow
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Women have always been taught to desire different things than men. We are taught to embrace a maternal instinct, to always care for children, to want to be mothers, to have a family, and to stay at home taking care of our children.
When it comes to building a professional career and pursuing the same goals as men, we often have to work harder than anyone else, especially in fields that are traditionally considered “manly.”
Women’s empowerment is relatively new. Until a few decades ago, women were still fighting for basic rights such as the right to vote, and there are still places in the world where women do not have their basic rights. We are far from a perfect reality.
Have you ever noticed how men try everything to put us down? Our voices are silenced, and we are constantly struggling for things that should already be our right. With the rise of extreme-right politicians around the world, women’s futures feel uncertain. Are we ever going to be truly free? Are we ever going to have our careers recognised in the same way men’s careers are?
Men and patriarchal ideas are constantly trying to hold us back, to make us submissive. And those who believe in these ideas are often blinded by ambitions that are not even their own.
The Handmaid’s tale (2017 – 2025)
When it comes to dystopian realities where women have lost all of their rights, The Handmaid’s Tale is often the first thing that comes to mind. But is this dystopian reality really that far from us? If you look closely, you’ll find that parts of it are very real.
In Afghanistan, women have lost countless opportunities and freedoms. Many have been denied the possibility of pursuing their dreams and ambitions, leaving them with little hope for the future.
Abortion should be legal everywhere, but how can we discuss that if we’re still fighting for basic rights? The obvious has to be repeated over and over again. How can we discuss a better future for women if, in so many ways, there are still men fighting for our downfall?
They are afraid of the power of women because they know we are strong in ways they will never fully understand. To carry a child in our wombs, to raise children while maintaining a successful career, to endure unimaginable pain every month, and to approach life with empathy and understanding are qualities possessed by many extraordinary women.
If you put your mind to something, you’ll go further than anyone expects, and perhaps that’s why some people are so afraid of female ambition.
Natalie Portman
Don’t ever give up on your dreams because the path seems too “masculine.” Don’t ever let a man tell you what you can or cannot do.
Be bold. Take risks. Become the most powerful version of yourself. Prove them wrong and never allow their limitations to become your own.
Our rights may still have to be defended, and there is a long road ahead before this battle is over. But one day, women’s rights will no longer be questioned. They will simply be recognised as human rights.
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