Jewelia+S’s+Final+AmEx+Speech+2016


 * I Want to Grow Old in an America That's Great Again **

For the past week I’ve been writing a speech about bees. I was going to stand here for 5 minutes and preach to you all about how the bees are going extinct and we’re all going to die of hunger. But, as of 4:30 the night before I present, I’ve decided to change my topic for the third time.

I’m here to talk to you guys about something I love more than bees. I’m here to talk to you about Onika Tanya Maraj, more commonly known as Nicki Minaj. No, this is not a joke. This is a speech about the unacceptable amount of double standards there are in our society. So what does she have to do with double standards? She is constantly criticized for her clothes being too sensual and her lyrics being too promiscuous. Men in the exact same industry with lyrics about the same things are never criticized for being too racy or sexual, nor do their wardrobes make the headlines.

Double-standards are not just for the rich and famous, people like you and me get to experience them everyday. A woman’s wardrobe is over criticized not only on the red carpet, but everywhere and everyday. A few weeks ago in my ASB class we had a lady from FIDM talk to us about how to properly dress for a job interview. For the boys in the class she suggested a button up shirt or a suit, depending on the job. As for the girls there was a long list, a dress with an appropriate length, conservative heels, pantyhose, a neutral nail color, professional hair style and natural makeup. Without these basics you can say goodbye to that job. Her advice was not inaccurate, it was actually frustrating how accurate it was.

Another thing that is expected of women and not of men is what people assume we want our future to look like. So many family dinners have been filled with relatives talking to me about “when you have kids” or “for your future family”, but not once was I asked if I even want children. At the moment I don’t think I want any kids in the future, but that’s not the point. The point is that I don’t want my future assumed for me.

I would also like to address that a woman expressing her sexuality is completely taboo in our society. This brings me back to Nicki Minaj. Now, you may not like her music and you may not like her but there is no denying the progress that she has made for women in expressing their sexuality. She objectifies and sexualizes men in her songs just as much as men objectify and sexualize women in their songs. Now this may seem like the opposite of progress, but I see it as a big step forward in women being able to openly express their sexuality.

Lastly, I’d like to address the side of double-standards that is never recognized, the unfair standards that men are held to. There’s a certain stigma which surrounds men unmanly or “feminine”, which is quite honestly complete bull-shit. Phrases such as “man-up” or “stop being such a girl” teach young boys not only that women are inferior, but that men must be in a constant mind-set of maintaining their masculinity. I don’t know why their is a stigma around guys hugging each other and I don’t know why people think men shouldn’t cry, but I want to grow old in an America where these stigmas don’t exist. I want to grow old in an America where relatives stop talking about the “future children” of a 16 year old girl. I want to grow old in an America where people don’t set their expectations of you based on your gender, race, or sexuality.

Thank you.


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