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Women's Rights
By Sarah Gutman
International School Manila
I THINK women and men should be treated equally. Women are always
expected to be very polite, helpless, neat and beautiful. I don't fit this
traditional image of the female. I can't stand wearing dresses. I hate using make-up,
though nail polish is okay. "Helpless" also doesn't describe me because I
can stand up for myself with no problem. I know how to defend my points, and I use this
talent a lot, in and out of school. I am not neat because I usually don't get good
marks for neatness in school. I try to be neat, though it doesn't come naturally.
One remark that really bothers me is "You throw like a girl." What is that
supposed to mean? Girls aren't athletic? Girls aren't strong? What?! Well
whatever it is, it's probably wrong. I know lots of athletic girls. I even play
tennis. And last year, the strongest person in class was a girl. She beat everyone in arm
wrestling.
One other thing that bothers me is when I walk into a restaurant, all the waiters make
compliments about how pretty I am. Unlike some girls, I'm not flattered. Am I
supposed to be? If not, then what is my reaction? I don't know. My reaction is
usually a weak smile.
Sarah is a Grade 5 student at International School Manila. She loves animals, lives
with her parents, a kid brother and two dogs and 12 fishes.
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January 15, 2000
Caught 'Em All Yet?
Women's Rights
Feature on Special Schools
POETRY
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