Knowledge, our greatest “weapon”

[muskanislam99]

I consider myself privileged to have been born in the 20th century, and despite complaining about the inequalities that exist, we are far from suffering what women suffered in the past.

There is still a long way to go and we all have to take steps towards this, but we are no longer in the 18th and 19th centuries, where any woman who deviated from the narrow view that was expected was committed to a mental hospital, even being killed for not being “normal”. And not being normal meant being an artist, having an opinion or not accepting someone else’s decision for her.

I am doubly lucky to have been born in Portugal, a country where, despite the existing machismo, women are free and can always decide.

And finally, I am lucky to be part of a generally feminist family, where women have always been strong and fought for what they want.

My grandmothers, who lived most of their lives alone, always fought to telegram data be happy and they always told me, and repeated over and over again, “never depend on anyone”. This expression is almost a mantra for me and I practice it to the point of exhaustion.

If I am financially independent, I will be free more easily!!!


My parents never differentiated between boys and girls, and I never heard sexist speeches about me. They always encouraged me to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, as long as I did it responsibly. I never heard phrases like: “not because you’re a girl”, or “not because a girl shouldn’t do it alone”; quite the opposite. I climbed walls, trees, went out at night from the age of 16, traveled with friends and was always motivated to do whatever made me happy.

And perhaps for all this reason I do not tolerate discourses on inequality, whatever their nature. I do not understand them. And I cannot understand how, in a country like Portugal, this is possible.

But despite all the factors favoring me, I also suffered several moments of discrimination. And I don't say this to make you feel sorry, but to make you think. If someone who has all these privileges suffered discrimination, imagine someone who doesn't.

Professionally, that's where I felt them the most, mainly because there is a passive/aggressive discourse that almost seems to make sense to be accepted in a professional context.

Every time I felt this way, I also decided that it wasn't the place I should be. Over the years, I've unfortunately learned that you can't change toxic environments, which is a sad reality. So, those who are in a bad situation move on, making it clear that such behaviors should not be tolerated. But I repeat, this is the view of a privileged person. Because there are those who can't do it and don't have support. And that's where we must act.