Empowering, Emotional, and Enraging: The Philly Slut Walk 2016

Yesterday I participated in my first ever March to End Rape Culture, formerly known as the Slut Walk. It is safe place for people of all ages, genders, races, sexualities, and everything in between to come together and do their part to
change the world for the better. I have never felt more comfortable in a large group of people than I did there, everyone was welcoming, accepting, and happy. People were dressed in all different outfits that made them feel good about themselves and it was so empowering to see people comfortable in their own skin. I was lucky to hear stories from many different speakers who were brave enough to get on stage and share their heartbreaking stories of overcoming the tragedy that they have to wake up every day and face. The tragedy of rape, sexual assault, molestation, and more. Rape culture is something we feed into everyday when we stay silent: it's Brock Turner getting three months of jail time, it's women being asked "well, what were you wearing?" or "were you drunk?", it's preaching "don't get raped" instead of "don't rape".  It needs to end. Blame the system, not the victim.

Walking down the streets of Philly chanting with like minded people was a powerful experience, but what was even more powerful was seeing the people on the sidewalk not booing, but cheering us on and clapping. They yelled and honked their horns in support, I didn't see one person without a smile on their face. However, one of the most enraging parts of the day was before we left to march. Everyone was gathered by city hall conversing, taking photos, and making posters-everyone was having a wonderful time. But then a man and a few of his comrades decided to show up with a mega phone, pocket bible, and posters to chant at us about how we are "going to hell" and "ladies if you kept your legs closed you wouldn't get raped" (I shit you not those exact words came out of his mouth). Now, I do not care that his beliefs differ from mine, he has his opinions and I have mine. What I am not okay with is how he showed up to a peaceful event full of happy people gathering for a good cause, to spew his hatred for them and attempt to get a negative reaction to feed his ego. He wanted us to get mad, that is the only reason he came, he knew if we got mad it would justify his opinion of us, that we are "terrible sinners who belong in hell." I am proud to say that we responded to him without insults and negative words, but with chants of "love trumps hate".

You are always going to be surrounded by people like that man, people trying to knock you down and tell you that you are wrong. Ignore them, be whoever you are happy being, say what you feel, and stand up for the things you believe in. I did, and it felt amazing.

If the March to End Rape Culture/Slut Walk sounds like something you'd be interested in, check out there website: http://www.marchtoendrapeculture.com

Cringing and Crying (aka checking your bank account)

Me on the first day of classes.

Textbooks are expensive, and every time I had to swipe my debit card in the school bookstore or click 'checkout' on Chegg, I died a little inside. It was like a little piece of my heart went with every dollar I spent on my books, (which lets be honest I probably won't read most of them anyway). I rented all of mine, except two, so they were a little cheaper although it kind of sucks spending almost $100 on a book you have to give back, and I can't even doodle in the margins because then I'll have to pay a fine. *eye roll* The most painful part of buying textbooks is that after you've bought them all you feel pretty good-it's over with and you have everything you need. And then it hits you. You are going to have to do this every semester for the next four years of your life. Honestly, I realized that on my second day of classes and I considered dropping out for a solid five minutes. After I got over my little existential crisis about textbooks I thought "hmm what could make my day even better? Checking my bank account, of course!" So that's what I did, and I cringed and cried. A lot. I had decent amount of money in my account from working all summer and when I logged on chunk of about a couple hundred of it was gone. Poof. Disappeared. Taken by a little devil known as college. 

Because we all know the only thing worse than having to spend money on things you need, is spending money on things you don't need at all. Like jeans. I don't really need jeans but if you give me a BOGO 50% off and a student discount, I will most definitely be able to convince myself that I need jeans. And that's what I spent my Friday afternoon doing. I got my jeans-two pairs for $71-which did take a lot of convincing, a text to my mom, reassuring from my roommate, and chatting online with the customer service guy, (I wanted to see if I could get anymore money off but sadly the answer was no). But I did it nonetheless and I'm hella excited because they are arriving next week and I can't wait. I haven't had the courage to go on and look at my bank account since I bought them and I might not ever build up the courage to, but hey ignorance is bliss, right?

 

Me too, Edward, me too.