Exclamationquestion’s Weblog

Dear Teacher, 

I am writing, not out of spite or in an attempt to break your ego–although of which I believe could be for the better). Instead, I am writing this for all of the girls you will teach after me. You may have studied “feminism” but do not so quickly stamp a word on something that you, a male, will never understand. In your class, I, a female, was quiet in discussion. I was quiet and uncertain and doubtful and too insecure to speak up. You along with the other males in the class were loud, certain, and full of confidence. It is evident females lack a certain overbearing ill-famed confidence and purpose that most males elude. So, when in your class you spoke of feminism and females- you along with the other males seemed to so quickly jump at the idea. You get it- females are suppressed. But you don’t, you don’t see the same suppression went on in your class. Females who ask for help are not weak. Nor do quiet girls lack intelligence. The loud, pompous boys shouted their opinions back and forth and you catered to them. To believe that a male because he is loud, has a penis, and has an opinion that he possibly has never questioned, never doubted makes him stronger and more suited in a profession for English or Poetry or Writing is only aiding in female suppression. Ask yourself this, (you may not be able to do this being that you, like most males may never have doubted anything about yourself) have you ever considered the possibility that all students in your class posses the same potential in writing and in poetry and in thought. And collaboration, asking for help, is not a weakness as males see it. Collaboration, and question, and doubt, and over-thinking may bring about something more beautiful than a one-tract, I am right-you are wrong competitive atmosphere.  We are all forced to live in a world that often lacks consideration and concern. All I am asking you to do is to consider- throw yourself into question and doubt. Turn the mirror upon yourself. Erase all of your previous delusional thoughts of what constitutes intelligence. Ask yourself if you see gender- we all do. Ask yourself if you saw a weak girl, but she wanted help. 

Saying all of this, I remember. Who am I to be questioning you? You are a professor and let us not forget a male. You have that lovely diploma. You have studied more, you know more than I do. What am I but a quiet girl with whimsical, contradicting opinions. A girl who never knows for certain if she is right or wrong. But neither do you.