Why Are Women Always Put Last? Essay, Research Paper

Ever since I was little, I have always looked up to my dad. I’ve admired him for his intelligence, his humor, his devotion, and his friendliness. But the one thing I have never neglected in my whole life is that my own father is a well-known, well-respected doctor. Whenever I walked down a street with him, people would smile at him, shake his hand, or give him a gift. I soon coveted this “fame” that he had, and wanted to become a doctor. I would practice on my dog or my pillows before preschool and after preschool until my curfew. I was happy with my devotion. In fact, I was proud of myself. Even more proud than my own parents. But that all changed.

I was riding my bicycle with my friend Freddie when his parents were babysitting me. Freddie fell off his bicycle and cut his knee on a piece of glass. When I heard him crying, I ran into his house and told his parents. By the time they got there, his knee was literally in a puddle of blood. I remember his mother almost fainting. I, too, was petrified, but if I was ever going to become a doctor, I had to help him. Surprisingly, I knew basic first aid at the age of a preschooler. I got down in front of him, took out the roll of bandaging from my mini first aid kit I always carried in my pocket, and wiped the blood off of his knee. Then, I took out some hydrogen chloride and disinfected his knee with it. Finally, I put on a big Winnie the Pooh Band-Aid on the wound. Both Freddie and his parents were shocked at my ability. Freddie’s mother was in tears when she told me that I would make a great nurse. But she started laughing when I told her that I wanted to be a doctor. In fact, as I recall, everyone, including bystanders, were laughing at me. Freddie was laughing at me too! Out of all the laughter, I heard an elderly woman say that being a doctor is something only men can do. When I heard this, I started crying and ran away into my own backyard.

I have never forgotten that day, the most horrific and crushing day of my childhood life. Since then I have been neglecting possibilities of becoming a doctor. I never wanted to be embarrassed as much as that day again. I have been acting ignorant to prevent people from thinking that I am pursuing medical aid as a career. But lately I have been thinking about why this is happening to our society. Why are women always put last? Are we that much worse than men are? No! In fact, as statistics show, schoolgirls are smarter and more dedicated than schoolboys are. Why, then, are we considered less than men? I am aware of the fact that most men are stronger than most women, but that does not give them a priority in life! In the past few decades, women have gotten more and more defensive. They are now unafraid to stand out against men, whereas fifty years ago, no woman was even allowed to displeasure a man. I am proud that my gender of people is growing as time passes. I hope that no little girl will ever have to go through the embarrassment I went through when I was a little girl. And to make sure that they don’t, this society has to change!