Alysa+E’s+Final+AmEx+Speech+2016

Pretty pic of LP and I


 * Title of Speech: **Speaking Up


 * Text of Speech **

I consider myself to be a fairly reserved individual. I’m not one to willingly speak in front of a large group of people and I tend to stay in my comfort zone. I neglect to speak out at times, even when I feel strongly opinionated on a subject. I believe that I can speak on behalf of a lot of people when I say that I have held myself back from speaking up, with the fear that others will reject my ideas. We refrain from speaking up in an effort to save ourselves from an uncomfortable situation, in the fear that we might sound stupid, or that others won’t agree with our opinions. Somehow, we tend to think that saying nothing at all will be better than voicing our opinion with running the risk of being judged. For both girls and boys it is common to restrain ourselves from speaking, however, it is especially prominent in girls, who are taught to “sit still and look pretty”. Society has trained girls to avoid making mistakes, to avoid putting ourselves outside of our comfort zone and to play by the rules. On the other hand, boys are encouraged to make risky moves. Encouraged to be bold and courageous; to “man up”. Society is subconsciously teaching girls to be perfect- flawless, and training boys to be bold and risky.

We have made significant progress in United States history when you compare this year, 2016, to the mid-1800’s when the idea of “republican motherhood” rested at the core of society's beliefs- a time when women’s rights were very limited. Women are climbing the social ladder and becoming more prominent in the workforce. Women are constantly defying societal norms- 100 years ago the idea of a women running for the highest office in the United States wouldn’t even cross one’s mind. In an article in The Atlantic, it was even theorized that women are more likely to receive a college degree than men. Despite the progress that women have made to gain their undeniable rights in society, men are still dominating the workforce and are typically still getting paid more than women. Meanwhile, women are underrating themselves, yielding to a decreased amount of confidence. In a study that was performed by two professors, the relationship between women competence and confidence were examined. Men and women were given tests on scientific reasoning and beforehand, they were given general questions such as if they thought that they were good in science. Generally, women responded to the questions more negatively than the men, indicating that they weren’t as confident as men in their abilities in the scientific field. The results of the test were different than the women had expected- women had nearly the same score average as the men. Women’s lack of confidence right off the bat causes them to reject future opportunities, or to consider themselves not worthy of what they have achieved because of the sense of insecurity of their social standing compared to men. I’m not saying that women are the only ones who doubt themselves or have insecurities, because men experience that too. However, women are more likely to let their doubts hold them back from opportunities compared to men.

So, how can we prevent a lack of confidence amongst women in the workforce for future generations? The answer is to teach __both__ girls and boys at a young age to take action, speak up, be bold, and to set boundaries. To quote Brene Brown: “ Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others”. I admit, I’m guilty of neglecting to set boundaries for myself. I’m a people pleaser, I worry too much about what others think. But aren’t most of us guilty of neglecting to set boundaries? Some of you may beg to differ in the sense that you’re very aware of the importance of setting boundaries, but the lack of setting boundaries amongst people is a common occurrence that I have seen. Most of us have fallen under the trap of saying yes to volunteering to do something that we don’t really have the time or willingness to do. We agree to do something that we don’t want to do in order to gain approval from others. In other words, we’re constantly seeking to please others. When we start to really live for ourselves and not base our lives on pleasing others- to say no or to speak up when we disagree with something- that is when confidence among individuals in the United States will be restored.

My intentions are in no way to degrade men, or to complain about women’s status in society, but rather it is a call to action in teaching both boys and girls from a young age to be courageous. I hope to grow up in an America where, instead of shutting down and judging others opinions, people are encouraged to be bold, to take risks, make some mistakes, and step outside of their comfort zones.


 * Sources **

[|__http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/05/the-confidence-gap/359815/__]

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