A Woman knows

Only a woman can relate….

If women were to support each other, admire each other and not engage in female bashing of each other, imagine how our lives would be. All too many times I listen to women criticize other women about their look, about how much they work or how little they work, their boyfriends, their girlfriends, their houses, their cars, their kids, their parenting, it goes on and on. Here is the piece that we need to accept, all of us women are a part of the same club. This club fuses us together in a way that no other group can. We have strength in our numbers, but we have yet to see how unified and how similar we are. The following are just a few examples of the threads that bind us, although I know that there are thousands more every woman could add to this list!

Only a woman knows what it is like to be in a small room of people and be very aware that you are the only female in the room.

Only a woman knows what it is like when someone stares at you too long and makes you feel unsafe. 

Only a woman knows what it is like to run to your car in a dark parking lot because you may or may not have heard footsteps.

Only a woman plans out how to hold all her bags and lock her door as quickly as possible.

Only a woman has imagined how she would fight off someone who wants to attack her.

Only a woman knows what it is like to check the back seat of your car, just in case someone broke in.

Only a woman knows how uncomfortable our clothes feel versus men’s clothing.

Only a woman understands the adjustment to bras, tampons, pads and learning your period will, in one way or another, be a part of your life for years and years.

Only a woman knows the daily fight with her bra.

Only a woman knows the struggle to allow themselves to be athletic or competitive and yet still worry if people think they are nice.

Only a woman knows what it’s like to be called a bitch often and constantly.

Only a woman gets cut down, labeled, and shamed for having sex, while men get revered.

Only a woman knows what it’s like to watch a man’s eyes roam in places that it shouldn’t when she is trying to have a professional conversation or ANY conversation. 

Only a woman knows how hard it is to get respect in the workplace, still.

Only a woman knows that we can work harder and more efficient than our male counterparts and we still will not earn what our male counterparts earn and yet we show up to work, every damn day. 

Only a woman knows that feeling in the pit of your stomach when your partner cheats.

Only a woman knows the look in the eyes of a woman who is in a toxic relationship.

Only a woman knows the immediate, reflexive fear that comes when someone grabs you unexpectedly.

Only a woman knows what it’s like when a complete stranger decides they have the right to touch you, grab you, pinch you or smack you.

Only a woman knows the moment of anxiety that builds when you realize that an argument with a male could turn physical.

Only a woman knows what it is like to watch two females humiliate themselves fighting over a relationship.

Only a woman can pick out the female in a bar (within minutes) that should be watched and taken home by someone trustworthy.

Only a woman will answer the call from a friend in need anytime day or night.

Only a woman will often sacrifice her needs willingly, for the ones they love.

Only a woman knows how utterly frustrating it is when the tears come and the absolute last thing in the world you want to be, is crying.

Only a woman knows what it is like to have a male say to them “are you on your period” because you show emotions.

Only a woman knows what it’s like to have your favorite pair of pants, or night out or amazing vacation ruined by your period.

Only a woman knows what goes through your head when your period is late.

Only a woman knows what its like when your period comes unexpectedly.

Only a woman can understand the ability of a body that can grow and birth a child AND only a woman can know the depths and sometimes heart break of that process.

Only a woman can see in another woman’s eye’s what the loss of a child can do to a mother’s soul.

Only a woman will stand up, in defense of another woman’s child, simply because this child is someone’s baby.

Only a woman can have empathy and sadness for days over someone else’s heartache.

If only we women knew just how utterly strong, we are and if we could just commit to standing shoulder to shoulder with each other and not against or in criticism of each other, imagine what this world would look like. Only a woman would know.