When I was 5, I sang Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time” in class. When a boy actually hit me, I was told singing that song wasn’t appropriate at school.
When I was 6, a boy in my class inappropriately touched me. I told the teacher and was in turn taught, “boys will be boys.”
When I was 8, I joined the co-ed flag football team. I was the only girl in the league. Every week mothers told me that “football is a boy’s sport.” It was the first, and last time I played.
When I was 10, I started to dance jazz. There were a few boys in the class, and I was beginning to develop. One night they pointed out my changing body, and I spent the rest of class trying to dance with my arms across my chest. After class, I asked my mom to stick solely to my all-girl tap class… and to get a real bra.
When I was 12, I packed my own lunches for school. The contents only ever consisted of a water bottle.
When I was 13, I slapped a boy across the face for slapping my ass in the hall. I was lectured by a nearby teacher. He walked away innocently.
When I was 15, I let a boy destroy my confidence and self-esteem. I called it love.
When I was 16, “friends” told me they always thought I would be pregnant at 16. I was a virgin.
When I was 17, I stayed hours after dance class and put myself on a high protein diet. I convinced myself that my weight determined how good of a dancer I was.
When I was 18, while on campus tours, I was told where every safety light was on campus, and not to take drinks from strangers at parties.
When I was 20, I told him he was hurting me. He told me I was fine, held me down, and continued.
When I was 21, I told my boss about being sexually harassed by some customers. He suggested I start wearing looser fitting jeans.
At 22, I discovered my voice, and my driving force behind it. I will use my voice for the little girl afraid to speak out against a boy. I will use my voice for the woman beside me who has been silenced too long. I will use my voice for my future daughter, who will dream with confidence, because nobody associated her gender with her ability to achieve success. I will use my voice until I have none. And together, our voices will be heard.