How do you want to be treated?
Posted by Sarahbear on July 9, 2010
In high school I took Graphic Arts. It was a class where I learned to print on a printing press, design things on the computer, use light tables and spent a good deal of time bullshitting with friends. I think there were only a couple of girls in the class. It was an elective and most of the girls at my school didn’t want to risk getting ink all over their clothes or just had no interest in computer stuff. I hung out with most of the people in the class, it depended on the day. This story involves a few of the guys and Rebecca.
We always goofed off in class. The guys would pick on Rebecca. One afternoon, we were all sitting around a light table, as usual, and one of the guys grabbed Rebecca’s head and mimicked a blow job motion. She jerked her head up, giggling, and then said “How come you guys never do that to Sarah?”
I said “Because they know better. I don’t let them do that shit to me.”
The guys looked at each other and said, almost in unison, “Ya know, she’s right.”
They knew that Rebecca would giggle and flirt with them, regardless of what they did to her. She let them get away with it. She wouldn’t demand respect or tell the teacher. She would tolerate it.
I wouldn’t and they knew it.
We teach people how to treat us. If we consistently allow people to behave a certain way towards us, to use us, to abuse us, they will continue to do so.
Do you want to live your life as a perpetual victim? Put your foot down and demand the treatment you claim you desire, because if you don’t then you’re just allowing people to walk all over you. You’re showing them that you’re perfectly okay with what they’re doing to you.
Taylor said,
I’ve been trying to make the same point for years.
Steffers said,
Thank you. I needed this today.
maia stasia said,
I just need to say AMEN!! I was the girl who never stood up for herself, never confronted my tormentors, never thought I could defend myself. I was abused left and right because of it. Now, I can throw some decent punches, pack in a KILLER kick, and throw a grown man. I know for a fact that people who put out the “don’t fuck with me” vibe don’t get fucked with. I know those people and I’m learning to be one.
Thank you for making sense. After all the nonsense I just read…. I needed this.
Jason said,
That’s very true.
So many people today are treated like crap because they don’t expect anything better… especially women.
That said there are a lot of men who let women walk over them when they should stand up and grow a pair. Show respect, but demand it in return.
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