slamjoetry
Nobody likes you when you're 23
- Apr 19, 2024
- 104
So here's some context: I'm in my twenties and my sister is in her thirties. I love my sister but I've always held a certain amount of resentment against her. She's very argumentative, addicted to internet discourse, and HATES men with a strong passion (despite being married to one). When I was a kid, I really internalized that, and I hated myself for being born a man. I saw myself as inherently irredeemable, and it contributed to my suicidal depression. And if I ever said anything against her, then I was just "mansplaining" and she would treat my feelings as invalid. It was so bad that for a while, I wanted to cut my own penis off and become a woman just to earn her respect. She has also always nagged me about all of my friendships and relationships and how I'm naive and let people walk all over me.
We're adults now and I've grown up a lot. I still have suicidal depression but it's not nearly as bad, and I've become able to be confident in myself and comfortable in my male body. My sister however is still the same. Still spewing hatred nonstop towards anyone and everyone that doesn't fit her standards. And lately I've stopped tolerating it. The other day, she was bragging to me about how she used to have men take her on dates just to get them to pay for things and then she would block them afterwards. And she said this like it was cool, or funny, or in any way feminist. Thankfully in the past few years, I've gotten the chance to talk with REAL feminists who work hard to improve the world for both women and men, so now I can see my sister's behavior for the bullshit it is. And I called her out on it. I told her how bitter and hateful she is, how it has always affected me, and how I'm going to increase my distance with her if she doesn't make a change.
I don't want to distance myself from my own sister. I still love her despite everything but I just couldn't let everything continue on like this. And the thing is, it felt GOOD. After decades of letting her tell me what I am and how I should feel, it felt so liberating to finally speak my mind. She hasn't responded to me yet but I'm not planning on budging. I'm a man, and I'm valid. And I'm just as deserving of respect as anyone else. And I won't let her bully me just for the genitals I have anymore.
Always stick up for yourself, bros and gals (and everything in between). Never let anyone tell you that you're not good enough, especially over traits that you didn't choose.
We're adults now and I've grown up a lot. I still have suicidal depression but it's not nearly as bad, and I've become able to be confident in myself and comfortable in my male body. My sister however is still the same. Still spewing hatred nonstop towards anyone and everyone that doesn't fit her standards. And lately I've stopped tolerating it. The other day, she was bragging to me about how she used to have men take her on dates just to get them to pay for things and then she would block them afterwards. And she said this like it was cool, or funny, or in any way feminist. Thankfully in the past few years, I've gotten the chance to talk with REAL feminists who work hard to improve the world for both women and men, so now I can see my sister's behavior for the bullshit it is. And I called her out on it. I told her how bitter and hateful she is, how it has always affected me, and how I'm going to increase my distance with her if she doesn't make a change.
I don't want to distance myself from my own sister. I still love her despite everything but I just couldn't let everything continue on like this. And the thing is, it felt GOOD. After decades of letting her tell me what I am and how I should feel, it felt so liberating to finally speak my mind. She hasn't responded to me yet but I'm not planning on budging. I'm a man, and I'm valid. And I'm just as deserving of respect as anyone else. And I won't let her bully me just for the genitals I have anymore.
Always stick up for yourself, bros and gals (and everything in between). Never let anyone tell you that you're not good enough, especially over traits that you didn't choose.
