What do women want?

From a woman to the world.

I am angry, sad, happy, and confused today. Yes, of all days, it's today making me think about what I should feel about myself. I love being a woman, but I can feel the heavy weight of responsibilities and expectations of being myself. I am supposed to be working, making money, calling my parents, looking out for other people, handling my finances, taking care of myself, having a lifestyle, and fulfilling the unrealistic standards set for me!? Oh, and god forbid if I don't have it all together, I'll be a mess, making me feel insubstantial because I tend to feel a lot, not since I am "too emotional" or "too sensitive" as if it's supposed to be a bad thing? I don't want free coupons or discounts. I don't want to buy products because they fit your capitalistic agenda. I don't want to hear a woman putting another woman down because she hates drama. I don't want to answer women asking when I should marry, why I am so educated, I should freeze my eggs, have babies early, or judge women for having it any other way because it's so freaking exhausting.

I don't want to fix somebody. I don't want to be fighting for my mere existence, for living life on my terms every time. I don't want to be told to laugh, smile, be nice, be less angry, be made to feel inadequate, be less of a feminist, tone down my smartness, stay less educated, be less of a bitch, less powerful, less ambitious, less feminine, less masculine, less of who I am and probably everything that you think I am because I am not catering to the version of me you've created in your head, for your satisfaction. I don't want to celebrate myself and other women for just one day. I am really, ruthlessly angry. I want you to listen, not give me solutions; look out because it's a two-way street; tell me what you feel because it's alright. I want to be balanced. I want to take care of myself, for myself. I want to feel my emotions because it is who I am. I want to make my own money because why not? I want to do better things than worrying about having children, climbing the corporate ladder, or getting married because why not? I want to live, not ask for anybody's permission, not be answerable to everyone about my life choices, make my own choices, stay in my lane, be messy, a little unaesthetic, and be who I am while not giving a flying eff about how to be awesome because it only makes me human. I just want to be me. Women don't want much.

– By Vanshika Patil