Stephen Hinshaw's Essay 'What Is The Triple Blind'

I absolutely loved Stephen Hinshaw’s essay “ What Is The Triple Blind” and I couldn’t agree with it more. He made extremely strong points that boys and girls need to be educated on. Especially students in grades 9-12, which seem to be the hardest for all gender’s. One really strong point of his was on pg 277 “whatever else she made decide, she must also be sexy, thin, and pretty, have either a great boyfriend or a husband and kids and be wildly successful at her career.” There is so much expected of a girl and until I got older I never realized there is also pressure on men, but because I’m a girl I have more experience and stronger feelings of some of the difficulties women face. First off the appearance of a female is held to a high standard that is unfair. Girls are judged by their hair, makeup, and clothes no matter what they wear. If a women is seen in “comfortable attire” she doesn’t “try” or “sloppy”. Females who are into fashion and like to dress up more or show skin are often called bad names. Women who wear too much makeup are called names like “cakeface” or described as trying to hard. Girls who don’t wear makeup are still talked about in negative ways for not “conforming to girly
things.” No matter what a girl does she will be viewed in a negative way. Women have to be soft, thin and curvy, but not to cury. I can remember from a young age always comparing myself to actors, singers, and even my barbie dolls. I’ve always wanted to be blonde, also hated my freckles, always wanted curly hair, I was just always trying to be something I wasn’t. Which is extremely unhealthy especially at a young age. Instead I wish I saw more realistic women to look up to like curvy brunettes with freckles. I honestly think it’s sad when I think about how much time I wasted thinking about looking or acting a certain way to be accepted by peers. I went through many different phases in middle school I tried to be more tomboy and more athletic but I still didn’t feel good so I tried wearing dresses and doing my hair or makeup more. I’m now 19 and I’m learning to accept whatever my style is I don’t have to label it as anything I just wear what I feel good in, somedays I wear makeup some days I don’t, some days I wear dresses other days I'm in workout clothes. There is no message behind my clothes or makeup,it’s just what makes me happy and that’s the most important thing. If I could teach my younger self this and any other person this I would have done it a long time ago. Second off females are expected to marry and have children and be stay at home mothers which is horrible to assume that because you want to have a family you have to give up any career goals you had.
If you want to be a stay at home mom, that’s great, if you want to start your own company that’s still great. There is no rules or expectations that should be set for how a woman should live her life. Many females don’t want kids and people will question this or women who don’t get married people assume there is something wrong with her. One of my favorite quotes by Gloria Steinem is “ A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.” I need oxygen,food, and shelter I don’t need my peers or a man to accept me, as long as I accept and love myself the rest will
come.