Confessions of a Modern Woman
by Cherryl Anne Cruz

I live in a society that's totally different from me. It's not something radical - just the little things that create the avalanche. Somehow, I was raised to be independent and be my own person, and they are qualities that are not really considered normal in my society. Here, everyone is expected to be demure and let their men do almost everything. In short, women are still expected to repress their desires in hopes of pleasing their men. Of course, men around here will say they like powerful, accomplished and strong women. But scratch beneath the surface and you'll see it's just an automatic litany they recite, sort of like the litanies you hear from people at church - robotic, insincere, and detached.

 I'm not really sure how to go about this. How can a powerful, strong, and intelligent woman live among those who are constantly intimidated by these same traits? Being too powerful isolates you; being strong intimidates men; being intelligent threatens everyone. Where do you put yourself, then? Nowhere. And when these things go for a long period of time, you get lonely and you start thinking maybe it's okay to change yourself a bit. Maybe you can hide your strength from time to time, or maybe you can be less powerful. Maybe you shouldn't show what you really think because you might sound too intelligent.

 When these doubts start to creep in, you realize you lose yourself in the process. You forget who you are, and it's something you shouldn't do with yourself. I am well aware of this pitfall - that's why I refuse to be molded by what society thinks a woman should be. I know I am different, just as anyone is different. We all have something to give, something to contribute. But how can we recognize them if we're not given the freedom to explore ourselves? When our souls yearn to sing, can we do that if we're told to keep quiet? Do we need to sit down when we long to dance our hearts out?

 It's about time society realizes how special all people are. We are put here to give something unique to everyone, and the only way it can be done is to give the person freedom to be himself. A person's gender is not important. What matters is that he acts according to who he really is, and uses his uniqueness to give something valuable to the people around him. Being real and true to who we really are should be something we must constantly aim for because when we do, our lives will be constant blessings to everyone else.

About the Author

Cherryl Anne Cruz is an Information Science graduate and a Communications Trainer. She is also a writer and has written numerous articles and instructional materials for entertainment, lifestyle, finance, automobile and travel magazines. She loves books, nature, animals and the arts. She is currently an online volunteer for the United Nations, and plans to expand her influence by coercing Donald Trump to donate his hairstylist to PETA and the Animal Rights Movement.