Dear Ms. Adichie,
My name is Analis Ponce. I am an eighteen year-old student at BMCC in New York. I am Mexican-American. My major is Paramedics. After watching your TED Talk “We Should All Be Feminists,” I wholeheartedly agree with your arguments. Growing up in a household mostly focusing on my mom, I am familiar with the challenges women face, such as bias decisions and machismo. As you mentioned, this issue is especially prevalent in countries like Nigeria, your country of origin and also my home country Mexico. However, it is not just limited to that country; it is a worldwide occurrence that we often overlook. Even something as simple as the stereotype that men should always pay bills, look after the family financially and do all the hard work perpetuates the gender inequality that exists in our society. This is due to the way we are brought up, with a clear distinction between men and women’s roles, where men are supposed to be strong and women are the “damsel in distress.” Even when a woman acquires more power than a man, they can feel intimidated because of these archaic beliefs. However, I believe that the new generation is aware of these issues, and it is possible to change the way we raise children to break these stereotypes. We need to teach all kids that it is okay to cry and be afraid, and girls can be strong and independent too. Instead of comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each gender, we need to focus on abilities and change our culture to promote equality. There are many misconceptions about the definition of feminism. My take on feminism is doing your part on making everyone equal and doing your part in society to make it a better place. Being a women can be hard sometimes with the extra doubts others have on you because they don’t see the value in a women. Proving these people wrong and just give them that little sprinkle of humble can go a long way to kill these stereotypes on women. I enjoyed your TED talk. Thank you for inspiring me and other people that have watched this TED talk.
Best regards,
Analis Ponce
