“Excuse me miss, but you look really beautiful.”

Now that’s how you compliment a woman. A couple of days ago when I was going through some drama with a friend, someone on the QC quad stopped me to say just that, and it kind of made my day. It was so simple, without asking for anything in return, just a simple compliment.

So why am I bringing this up? Because more men should be like this. Honking at a woman from your car isn’t going to get you her phone number. Whistling or hollering at a woman from across the street will not get you her number. Calling a girl sexy while attempting to grope her butt will also not get you her number. I would like to know what world a woman would give you her phone number if you objectified her and treated her like she was a piece of meat, rather than a human being, because that certainly is not the case in our world.

So how do you get a woman’s phone number? You treat her with respect. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to her.

I’m sure you’re wondering if this is going to be another one of those posts commenting on the death of chivalry, and you may be partially right. My point is, this is how women tend to be used and viewed in our society:

 

And how do most men look at women walking down the street? Let’s take a look at a popular vide from NYC:

As a woman, I can confirm that this happens. All the time, almost everyday, and where you are in the city doesn’t matter: if you are a woman, you are an object to be looked at and desired.

Do you want to conform? Do you want to be just like any other man objectifying a woman? Do you want to be a woman who is constantly objectified? Probably not, but this is something that’s going to take a change within all people. Women are not objects. We are not creations of art that were made to be studied, observed, and judged: WE ARE PEOPLE.

How to treat a woman:

1. Treat her like a human being.

2. Treat her like a human being.

3. Treat her like you would your sister, your mother, your cousin, your best friend.

4. Treat her like a human being.

5. Treat her with respect.

6. Treat her with honor.

7. Treat her with dignity.

8. Treat her as though she is you.

9. Treat her better than you would yourself.

10. Treat her like a human being, not a piece of art, object, food, or advertisement, because she is neither, and never will be.

And my fellow women, treat yourself with love and kindness: you are worthy, you are valid, you are an individual, you are a leader, you are beautiful, you are intelligent, you are more than just what you wear, you are more than what you do, you are more than who you’re friends with, and you are more than what people think you are.

Most importantly, you are you, and be just that in all your glory.