Ladies....WAKE UP!

I’m heated. I’m upset. I’m angry. Better yet, I’m pissed off! I’ve never been a victim of sexual harassment – mainly because I’m a guy (not saying that guys are not sexually harassed) – but I do know many females, one in my family, one whom I intend to begin a family with, and my high school friend, who have been either physically or verbally harassed sexually. Why should I care about that if it never happened to me? As a guy, should I not be in favor of trying to get some anyway? Why am I so upset?

I am the only male child in my family sandwiched between my older and younger sister. For most of my life I was raised in the absence of my father and in the presence of three feminine figures. What’s the impact? I am accustomed to performing the feminine tasks in the home rather than the masculine: I can cook, sweep, mop, dust, do laundry (both by hand and machine), iron, sow, wash dishes, etc… * I also find that I have more female friends than male friends – this is also the result of my good looks… All of my friends, whether male or female, know me to be a good listener and I attribute that to my feminine surrounding as I was growing up. I also tend to be more sensitive on some levels than most guys my age. In my family my mother has more vision than my father; meaning, she is able to plan further ahead than my father, and this is yet another one of my feminine traits. For the majority, it is known that the ladies talk more than the dudes, and guess what…? You’ve guessed it!

What’s the point of all this?

In no way do I intend on saying that I am an expert in feminine affairs or a maestro in female psychology, etc; I identify with females more than I do with males, to a certain level. However when it deals with the issue of sexual harassment, whether in the workplace or in school, at home or at a party, ladies seem not to want to talk and that is a huge mistake. Ladies, wake up! Open your mouths and talk! Say something! Knowledge is power, and if you don’t let the right people know, then they cannot exercise their power in your favor.

Recently, my girlfriend shared with me a not so pleasant experience at work: she was degraded my one of her managers who insisted that she allowed him to have intercourse with her. According to her, he walked up to her with an erection and practically begged her to “touch it”, stating that when he thinks of her and sees her, this is his body’s natural reaction. Some may believe that I speak in the perspective of a boyfriend defending his girlfriend and that I will automatically give her the benefit of the doubt… I do believe her account, but not because she is my girlfriend but because, regardless of all of my feminine traits, I am still a guy and men are dogs – not all.

Not too long ago I spent a day with my older cousin and two of his friends. It was one of the most disturbing experiences I’ve had as they spent the entire day referring to the females they know by the synonym for female dog… Today’s culture has become more accepting of this synonym allowing it to be used as another synonym for: female, woman, girl, ladies, wife, girlfriend, sister, mother… Sadly, the language of my cousin and his friends reflect the way in which more and more males, guys, dudes, homies, fellaz, view females: just a piece of ------ (synonym for donkey).
Ladies, wake up! If you have been sexually harassed physically or verbally, it’s time to realize the power is in your hands. This does not only apply to harassment, but any other way in which a guy has taken advantage of you. Do not allow any guy to view you as something you are not: you are the crown of God’s creation. Ladies, wake up! Wake UP! WAKE UP!