Over the course of my life, being female has been something that hasn’t crossed my mind. However, with countless news stories of rape and sexual assault, it has become more and more relevant. Being female is something that is not only more important to me now, but it also makes my anxiety skyrocket, which is another identity that crosses my mind quite frequently the older I get.

In “The Cycle of Socialization” by Bobbie Harro, he writes that the world we live in is a complicated, yet uncontrollable place. He says, “There is no reason for any of us to feel guilty or responsible for the world into which we are born. We are innocents, falling into an already established system.” I do agree with this quote, however, I feel that the media can sometimes make us feel “guilty” or “responsible” for the world we live in. Being a 17-year-old female in the midst of the Kavanaugh trials is a terrifying thing. Teenage females are currently living in A Scary Time. As the video states, it’s almost impossible for women to have any freedom in their lives. I am frightened by the fact that going to the wrong place at the wrong time or wearing something that makes me seem like I’m “asking for it” could change the rest of my life instantly.

The heightened fear of being taken advantage of is also played by my anxiety. Not only is it incredibly difficult for a teenage female to live in the world we live in today with the media, but as a 17-year-old about to embark on a brand new chapter of her life, my anxiety is pushed over the edge. College is already a scary concept. The independence that comes with college is one that we have to learn and experience on our own, not necessarily something we are taught in school or by our parents.

Going to college comes with great responsibility: doing your own laundry, having to use your own money, etc. However, going to college comes with great fear, especially as a female. Campuses are large and widely spread, and going to and from different areas of a campus can be nervewracking. When I visited Illinois State University this past weekend, I was out late with some of my friends walking from place to place on the campus. We were walking through a trail and it was pitch black. Having just recently heard of the death of Mollie Tibbetts, being on a trail in complete darkness was a large fear of ours. We were with a couple of guys which made us feel safer. While we did feel safer, it’s also important to realize that females shouldn’t have to feel nervous walking on a trail. The world has dug such an incredibly deep hole when it comes to the safety of women, and it seems like we will never find our way out.

I am proud to be a woman. Women are fearless, courageous, kind, genuine and hardworking people. It is heartbreaking and disappointing that our population is seen as one that can be taken advantage of and will be “too weak” to do anything about it. Seeing many sexual assault victims stand up for themselves and speak the truth is so inspirational and meaningful to me as a female. I only hope that as time goes on, the female population grows stronger and the stigma of sexual assault and rape cease to exist. We do live in a complicated world, but it doesn’t have to be that way.