1. I am sick of hearing that sexism is no longer an issue when I see it playing out in so many parts of my life or aspects of the world around me.
2. I am sick of victim-blaming culture cautioning my female friends, peers, and myself against sexual assault by warning us to avoid excessive drinking and provocative outfits rather than teaching people not to sexually assault in the first place.
3. I am sick of hearing that I am a prude if I choose not to hook up with someone.
4. I am sick of hearing that I am a slut if I do choose to hook up with someone, but I am also sick of those who feel as though they are entitled to anything from me.
5. I am sick of strangers who think it is okay to hit on me at parties, clubs, or bars by touching my arms, waist, back, or any part of my body, unsolicited.
6. I am sick of walking down a street and hearing comments like, “hey, baby, you a dancer?” uttered in my direction.
7. I am sick of feeling powerless against street harassment.
8. I am sick of feeling powerless against sexual harassment, from either women or men.
9. I am sick of how the media suggests that I am only beautiful if I can squeeze my body into a size zero or if my chest-to-waist-to-bottom ratio gives me a perfect hourglass shape.
10. I am sick of going out and having people I don’t know or barely know grope my butt or my chest, and I am sick of their negative reactions when I tell them not to touch me.
11. I am sick of feeling judged for the clothing I wear — whether it is considered too conservative or too immodest (by arbitrary standards).
12. I am sick of those who dismiss my opinions because I am “just a girl.”
13. I am sick of those who dismiss me as a “bitch” when I am rightfully assertive in situations that call for it.
14. I am sick of others legislating what I decide to do with my body, especially others who will never have to deal with the same kinds of issues my peers and I do.
15. I am sick of people asking why I would ever chose to prioritize a career over raising a family.
16. I am sick of people asking why I would ever choose to prioritize a family over pursuing a career.
17. I am sick of those who claim that a “yes” from someone so intoxicated she is barely aware of her surroundings entails consent.
18. I am sick of those who claim that a lack of refusal entails consent.
19. I am sick of having to comfort my friends who have felt violated, and I am sick of the people who make them feel that way.
20. I am sick of interacting with little girls who already feel unattractive because they measure their worth with their Bratz dolls and Barbies as metrics.
21. I am sick of people who comment first on my appearance and second on the quality of my writing.
22. I am sick of knowing that glass ceilings still exist in certain industries.
23. I am sick of the reminder that my peers and I will have a difficult time shattering these glass ceilings regardless of our talents or our qualifications.
24. I am sick of the pressures that society puts on women to act, dress, and think in certain ways.
25. I am sick of how these pressures make us sometimes feel inferior because of our gender.
I am ready for a change. A real change.