25 Things That Have Changed Our Lives
WOMEN:
Seeing Other Worlds
"I volunteered in Panama for the summer, and my first trip there made me aware of all the opportunities I have. I have always seen myself as a hard-working person, but watching my host sister work so hard for five years just to go to college for one year really put things into perspective for me." -Audrey, 19
Now & Then
"Uh, hello-because it teaches you the golden rule of feminism, that your girls always got your back." - Kana, 21
Pants
"Women used to wear skirts or dresses 24/7, and you can't climb a tree or have any kind of fun in that." - Teddy , 21
Boobs
"Cuz I couldn't run around with the boys anymore as soon as I had to start wearing a bra." -Helen, 20
Becoming Aware of Gender Politics
"When I was a Junior, I ran for president of my high school. I was up against six guys, and I got a ton of shit for it. I realized then that I would have to work a lot harder to be able to be a leader and to get the things I want." -Aliza, 19
New Parental Roles
"[My parent's] relationship flips gender norms - my dad does a lot of feminine things, like cooking and cleaning, and my mom does a lot of masculine things, like managing finances. My mom is more of a "fixer" but my dad is more of a caretaker. The fact that their relationship is so opposite of gender norms has been really formative for me." -Emma, 23
Vibrators
"These proved women could enjoy sex as much as men-in fact, they proved that women didn't need men to have a good time, period."-Rachel,* 20
Tampons
"They provide the freedom and comfort women need every month to level the playing field between the sexes. " -Carly,* 20.
Text messaging
"You mean we don't have to be cute and charming in person to win a guy over? That makes life so much easier!" -Anna,* 24
Freaks & Geeks
"That show made it totally ok to be a transitional kid in high school, who wasn't a freak, a geek, popular, a cheerleader-it made it ok to not fit in anywhere, but still made you feel like you could make friends. It was inspirational!" -Shannon, 19
Stevie Nicks
"That woman exudes power. When I look at her, I just feel like I can get through anything." -Lauren, 22
Female Astronauts
"When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut, but women didn't start going into space until I was already in college. Now, women have a sense of power that was never there before. It's more than just equal opportunity employment - it's that if you asked a little girl now if she wants to be an astronaut when she grows up, it will never cross her mind that maybe she isn't capable of it. Today women have real power to create change and opportunity for other people." -Marcia, 48
Depo-Provera
"Those shots women can get for birth control, so that angry or disapproving husbands never have to know." -Thea, 21
MEN:
The 1986 World Series
"The Mets won - I don't know about other guys, but it was life-changing for the men in my family." -Tyler, 20
Oppressive masculinity
"There was this mass rumor about me being gay a few years back. It confronted me with the reality that as someone who is not hyper-masculine who doesn't play into a hetero-masculine role, I would be scrutinized and judged. There is vicious policing in the male community, a lot of violence directed inwards." -Andrew,* 21
The Movie Theatre
"After I leave every movie, I'm excited to come again! The movie theatre is why I want to go into the film industry." -Charles, 19
Hurricane Katrina
"I was there when it happened and it literally shook my life." -Ethan, 18
Married with Children
"I got married when I was 22 and I'll admit that in the beginning I missed my freedom; going out with the boys and watching football games in the bars. Initially it was hard to accept. But, very shortly after getting married, having children and starting a life with your family, you realize that the life you chose is so much better than the life you were leading before." -Gary, 51
Emma Watson going to college
"Why do you think I applied to Brown University?" -Nick, 18
Catholic All-Male High School & Co-Ed College
"Going to an all-guys high school for four years gave me the benefit of getting along with other guys easily and going to college where it isn't a sausage fest after is the best feeling." -Thomas, 18
Moving Away for College
"Moving to Washington brought me into a fast-paced atmosphere of the U.S., away from the midwest where families typically go to settle down. It introduced me to a variety of cultures, and races, and viewpoints that I could not have been apart of back [home] in Wisconsin, and gave me opportunities I might not have had." -Hunter, 20
That's-what-she-said jokes
"It made Calculus so much better and makes awkward situations turn into more awkward situations." -Taylor, 19
Losing 125 Pounds
"I became a completely different person after I lost weight. I live a healthier lifestyle and the most important thing is, I feel better." -Greg, 27
Coming Out
"It's something that I have struggled through all of my life and when I finally did it, it was just a relief." -Ben, 31
Frozen Dinners
"A safety net for men and women, who need to work as well as feed their families." -Shawn, 19
*Some names have been changed at the request of the submitter.
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