Writing is someting I love to do. I would always just write at school
(essyas, projects, etc). But, when you find something you feel passionatley about or something you enjoy
it can take your writing to a whole new level. Down below are two of my favorite pieces of
writing!
New York Times Essay
One morning, I was looking through the New York Times Kids section of the Newspaper and they had
an essay contest and the winners would be published in the Newspaper. The prompt was to write about
something unfair that happpened at school, over 200 kids entered an essay, and only twelve were chosen.
I happened to be one of the twelve! Here is my essay down below!
Sophia Blythe
Age: 14
Providence, Rhode Island
Published: April 28th, 2019
The dress code at my school states: “Students should dress in a way that allows them to participate fully in the school
day without distraction.” Fair enough. This guideline sounds like it is committed to creating the best learning conditions
for all students. In reality, this does not impact everyone equally. For example, if a girl wears a shirt or dress that
exposes her shoulders, schools contend that this would distract boys from their learning. Typically, in this situation the
girl would be asked to leave school and return wearing proper attire. Why should girls have to leave school because their
shoulders are “distracting”?
Recently, at a school dance several girls were wearing off-the-shoulder dresses. Some boys complained to teachers that
they felt uncomfortable with how those girls were dressed. After hearing this, the teachers asked the girls to leave the
dance or cover up. While I was not wearing an off-the-shoulder dress, I became self-conscious, uncomfortable and vulnerable
with how I was dressed. I wondered if I was drawing unwanted attention to myself. But, I also wondered why did the girls have to leave?
Why couldn’t the boys taken themselves elsewhere?
Girls should not have to alter their appearance for boys who are presumably distracted by shoulders.
Have teenage boys not seen shoulders? It is completely unfair for girls to have to leave school to make learning “easier”
for boys and thereby miss out on learning opportunities themselves. In a society where clothing is presented as a form of self expression,
why should girls change their appearances to compensate for what boys, teachers,
or anyone might be thinking about their appearance? Rather than creating codes to control girls, society should treat girls
and women for who they are and not what they are wearing. #IamnotwhatIwear.
Be The Change Project Essay
In the 7th grade we had a very interesting project where we could choose
any type of change we want to see in the world and we researched and wrote about. I chose sexuall harassment
and women's rights. For part of the project, we had to make a creative choice, mine was a book. I made
the cover and wrote a preface for the book. Down Below is the preface!
Women are being taken advantage of, even in places we think are safe. It is wrong that
we have to talk about this, and it is wrong that women are not being treated as we should be. I
am a young girl of the age of 13, and sometimes I am afraid of what may be around the corner.
No one should leave with that fear, and all women should not be afraid to say no to man who is
threatening and risking their life. I am not just inviting women to tell their story and know when
to say no. I am also talking to men and boys, when we think of feminism, most of us jump to
women's rights. The definition of feminism is “Men and women should have equal rights and
opportunities.” Men are not yet treated equally, they feel like that since they are a man they
should be tough and not share their feelings, and their hobbies can only be those that seem to be
masculine. We won’t be able to see equality for any gender until we see what needs to be
changed, and treat people based on who they are and not what their gender is.
I believe that the men like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, James Franco and Bill
Cosby only assaulted and harassed those women and men so they could feel some kind of male
dominance. I believe there is a small fragment of good in those men, that show who they really
are. Although, now we see those men as the ones who have assaulted men and women. There is
no country where all genders are seen as equals, we need to see each other as equal colleges,
classmates, workers and people. Women and men won’t be equal until we are paid the same for
the same job, and until we all have a voice that we all feel like we can use to say “No,” and “This
is wrong,” For those boys and men out there who feel like this is wrong, we need you more than
ever to be an activist with us. Not just for girls and women but also for you, so you can have a
voice and we can all say without doubt that we are equal. Your voice is one of your greatest
powers. Use it. Emma Watson gave a speech at the UN in 2014 and she said “How can we effect
change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the
conversation?” All of us need to be advocates for our equality, and see each other as one and not
separate groups trying to make a change. Not just equality for women, but also equality for men.
That is where we can begin a better future for all, by using our voice and seeing each other as
one. Girls are not the only ones who are feminists.
Each page speaks truth to power. I didn’t only write for those whose stories were not told
but to educate and inspire girls. When you read this book, these stories from around the world
are in your hands. And as you read someone from the other side of the world may be reading the
same page. You don’t know eachother but you are connected through the narratives of women
who have faced insurmountable obstacles and have become the change you want. A World of
Change: Women’s Fearless Stories was written as an inspiration and a guide for young girls like
you. Hopefully your stories will not be of powerlessness, but of wild achievement and the
freedom of equality. Each story will carry you through the world, a world of change.
-Sophia Blythe