This morning at gym I was approached by an older woman who attends the same pilates class as I do. First she asked if I was a hairdresser and then laughed in my face at my pink hair. Being "me" aka, always taking the piss out of myself, I giggled along with her. She then went on about tattoos and how she thinks they make a person look sleezy. I shrugged it off, like I usually do. She doesnt know a thing about me, and she obviously has no idea what my motives are for having tattoos.
Im judged every single day for being a young mom. I had my son at the age of 18. A few women from the gym stopped me one day on my way in with my son to ask his age, my age, where the father is or if I knew who the father was. I answered all their questions, and it was then admitted by one of these women that they always thought I was too young to have chilld and that I was absolutely mad. A nurse at my local doctors rooms once asked me who usually took care of my son. I shrug these judgements off just as I do when people mock my appearance.
I became a vegetarian about 5 years ago, and all through these 5 years I have recieved criticism from friends and even family for my choice of diet. At braais I literally get interviewed about my eating habits, I get told my food looks inedible, and I get told time and time again that humans are meant to eat meat. It astonishes me how people can force these ideas onto me when I have never once criticised anyone for their own decision to eat meat. But, as usual, I swallow hard and ignore the judgement. Those people wont understand, they feel differently about what they eat (and perhaps towards animals) than I do.
I havent thought about it for a very long time, but that woman from this morning has had me thinking. I would love to be accepted one day, just for who I am, and not constantly questioned about why I do the things I do, or why Iv made the choices that I have. Quite sad how those of us who naturally differ from the "norm", innocently so, will never really be treated as equals.
Im judged every single day for being a young mom. I had my son at the age of 18. A few women from the gym stopped me one day on my way in with my son to ask his age, my age, where the father is or if I knew who the father was. I answered all their questions, and it was then admitted by one of these women that they always thought I was too young to have chilld and that I was absolutely mad. A nurse at my local doctors rooms once asked me who usually took care of my son. I shrug these judgements off just as I do when people mock my appearance.
I became a vegetarian about 5 years ago, and all through these 5 years I have recieved criticism from friends and even family for my choice of diet. At braais I literally get interviewed about my eating habits, I get told my food looks inedible, and I get told time and time again that humans are meant to eat meat. It astonishes me how people can force these ideas onto me when I have never once criticised anyone for their own decision to eat meat. But, as usual, I swallow hard and ignore the judgement. Those people wont understand, they feel differently about what they eat (and perhaps towards animals) than I do.
I havent thought about it for a very long time, but that woman from this morning has had me thinking. I would love to be accepted one day, just for who I am, and not constantly questioned about why I do the things I do, or why Iv made the choices that I have. Quite sad how those of us who naturally differ from the "norm", innocently so, will never really be treated as equals.
VIEW 9 of 9 COMMENTS
ihsv1683:
There are none so blind as thlose who cannot see!!
talamia:
I can't believe those people would judge you straight to your face 
I'm lucky that I've grown up my entire life being judged (from both/all sides) so it's the norm for me. I barely even notice discrimination against me. But when it's to other people I sit up and notice. I would have liked to have been there to give those middle aged yoga soccer mommies a piece of my mind.
I'm lucky that I've grown up my entire life being judged (from both/all sides) so it's the norm for me. I barely even notice discrimination against me. But when it's to other people I sit up and notice. I would have liked to have been there to give those middle aged yoga soccer mommies a piece of my mind.