I’m deeply protective of the women and girls in my life, always treating them with respect and standing up for them whenever I can. Growing up, I often befriended girls because they accepted my emotional vulnerability. With my deep empathy, they’d open up to me about the terrible treatment they’d received from guys.
Meanwhile, most of the bullies who tormented me were guys—probably 99% of them. I’m not trying to generalize, but finding a guy I feel safe enough to be friends with feels like searching for a needle in a haystack.
I’m not against guys—I know there are good ones out there. But I’m not going to play along with the patriarchal BS that encourages toxic behavior from men in our culture. I’m all about holding people accountable for how they treat others, no matter their gender.
Emotional vulnerability and empathy aren’t weaknesses, and I’m not here to stand by while harmful norms get a free pass. So, while I know there are good guys, I won’t tolerate the ones who think women are objects and will always speak up where my friends are concerned.