Letter To A Future Son
Hello, Steemheads. Today is Monday and like every other week day, I woke up thinking about the future. Okay, maybe I'm thinking about it more now because its my birth month and it's kind of a reminder that I'm getting older. My thinking today took me to a part most women dread; motherhood. Have I told you that children terrify me but I love them anyway LOL. So, I decided to draft a letter to a son I might have in future. Know that what you are about to read is just one of my random musings, mostly based on societal norms today. There's no hard and fast rule. Read with an open mind.
Enjoy!
Hello, Son.
This is May and this is 2018. It's the 21st century and a lot of things are wrong. You will grow up seeing these things, but I wouldn't want you to believe that they're right or normal. I'd do everything within my power to raise you into a decent man. I owe you and society that much.
Son, there's something called Gender Equality. It means:
the view that everyone should receive equal treatment and not be discriminated against based on their gender.
Equal treatment as in equal opportunities in every aspect of life: politics, economic, education, property ownership, jobs etc.
This is one of the major issues in the world today. Entitled male folks refusing to see the female folks as their equal. You will grow up to this. It may no longer be as bad as it is today, but you will still meet it. So, here is the deal; a woman is not your rival. You are not in competition with her. There are healthy competitions, of course but this isn't about that. She's just human with equal opportunities which she shouldn't be denied. Society will call your bluff and tell you there's nothing like equality, that you're stronger and more powerful. It will present Equity to you. Equity is fairness.
Picture this scenario: two brothers, one eight, the other four, are playing with a tennis ball. They throw the ball up and it lands on a window rail and stays there. The first thing anyone will expect is that the older brother will go and get the ball, but the younger brother wants to get it instead. So, the older one carries the younger one on his shoulders. He gives his brother a fair chance by allowing him to get the ball. Equity solves the problem at that very moment but equality will provide a medium for the younger brother to get the ball without help. The brother won't always be there. He'll have to play alone sometimes. Equality also makes it possible for you to choose, whether go follow the medium and go after the ball like in the example above or to let it be. Your choice in the end. Two things I wouldn't want you to misunderstand are physical strength and equality. You will be physically stronger than your sister, aunt or the woman beside you. You will naturally want to protect them. Don't fight it. It's part of you. Being physically stronger than they are doesn't make them inferior.
Son, I believe in God. I'm a Christian, but I won't make that decision for you. I grew up listening to a lot of false. I did a lot of unlearning and relearning. I won't want you to go through that. I'm irreligious. Indoctrination is the last thing I will let you suffer at my hands. You will go out and see the world, and hopefully, find God like I did. If you don't, it's okay. Your sexuality is also something I won't choose for you. I will prefer you being straight, but if you come home with a gentleman and introduce him as the person you're in a relationship with, I won't stone you for it. It will hurt, but the final decision is still up to you.
Now, listen. Sex is very important. It's part of life. You can wait till you're married, but if you decide not to, use contraceptive. Unprotected sex can turn your life upside down. Make sure you know the health status of your lover.
No means no, son. When she says that two letter words, leave her alone. Anything you do after she said that is rape. There's no justification, and you will pay. A seventeen year old is a minor. No matter how matured and attractive she looks, please turn the other way. Don't look at her at all. Sex with her will land you in jail.
I will raise you and make a responsible man of you, but I won't expect you to be perfect. Mistakes are part of life, but you should know that owning your shit is very important. You messed up, yes. You can't change it. It's done but you can make sure it doesn't happen again. You will meet blackmailers and there's a way to defeat them; acknowledge your wrong, own it and deal with it. Things happen even when we don't want them to. Try to not do anything that won't speak well of you, who you are or where you're from. Always remember this.
It's okay to cry, feel weak and defeated. Crying won't take your masculinity away from you. Bottling up emotions kills, slowly. Let it out, it will make you stronger.
Be daring, do what is right.
Go after what you want, don't be scared.
Education is very important, so you will get one, whether you like it or not.
Don't joke with books, they'll teach you things.
Tell likeability to fuck off.
Do you.
Be who you want to be, not who the society wants you to be.
Tell me your thoughts.