This author and I had more in common then I expected. This whole piece was so compelling to me because I saw similarities, shocking statistics and learned so much but what really called out to me was when the author was talking about something someone said to her before she started work as a fire-woman, “What I didn’t expect was the question I heard more than any other: “Aren’t you scared?” It was strange — and insulting — to have my courage doubted. I never heard my male colleagues asked this. Apparently, fear is expected of women.” Growing up, I was the only girl in my family of sixteen cousins. There were times when I noticed differences, like when we were out in the woods and I had to go back to the house to use the restroom and they didn’t or my aunt not wanting me to play tackle football with my cousin twice my size. Like the author, “I got a few stitches, and kept biking and sledding. Misadventures meant that I should try again. With each triumph over fear and physical adversity, I gained confidence.” (Paul) In hindsight, the things that my parents held me back on, were always for my safety and I can not remember a time when they didn’t let me do something that wasn’t for that reason. However, if there had been an instance like that, my mom still would not hear the end of it. I am thankful for the sheer fact that my parents let me play the way I wanted to. I think that is part of the reason why today I have very little problems with being intimidated by challenges and am the most independent person out of my friend group almost always. Not because I am smarter then they are or more talented or a better person, but because I grew up with a freedom of expression and gender equality all around me that I carry with me every day. Unfortunately not every girl is raised like this and “According to a study in The Journal of Pediatric Psychology last year, parents are “four times more likely to tell girls than boys to be more careful” after mishaps that are not life-threatening but do entail a trip to the emergency room.” (Paul) It is okay for anyone to be scared, and for the author to be scared to start working at a dangerous job. What is not okay is when the courage of a woman is doubted and a man is called a hero for doing the same job. Why as a society are women expected to be scared of daunting challenges or more hands on jobs, and what does that say about the men who are shamed for being afraid of the same things?
Works cited:
Paul, Caroline. “Why Do We Teach Girls That It’s Cute to Be Scared?” The New York Times. The New York Times, 20 Feb. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.