Through the years, the South has done an impeccable job at perpetuating inequality. Since I was raised in Georgia, I have been able to witness how close-mindedness has tried to wrap its oppressive embrace around the younger generation. Let’s take a look at the most outrageous phrases that I have encountered:
1.“You better dress to impress, because you never know when you’re gonna meet your future husband!”
I was told this at the ripe age of 12 when my friend’s mother so graciously felt the need to comment about the outfit I chose to wear to the mall. Apparently, if you live your whole post-pubescent life in constant fear that your wardrobe choices will repel all men, you become so miserable that you begin to question a middle school girl’s fashion sense. The South is often criticized for feeding a mid-twentieth century misogynistic beast; however, most southerners are completely oblivious to the fact that tradition and forced societal complicit-ness often allow misogyny to thrive.
2. “I’m not racist, but…”
If you begins your sentence with this statement, then it is safe to assume that you are in fact racist. This statement is usually followed with something extremely offensive to a specific minority, most often delivered through the use of stereotyping or an un-amusing joke. The people that usually make this statement stand in solidarity with the Confederate South, yet they often listen to rap music. (Need I point out the irony?) If someone tries to use this line while in casual conversation with you, please make no effort to suppress your eye-roll and exasperated sigh. Trust me, we are all tired.
3. “But I thought Jesus was white!”
Sure, maybe Jesus could have been white, but he was not born and raised in the Hamptons. Fun fact: Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which is a city that is situated in the West Bank (Middle East.) Geographically speaking, it is almost impossible for Jesus to have been white.
4. “I don’t want to call myself a ‘feminist,’ but I believe that women should be equal to men.”
While some politicians and backwoods preachers would like to believe that a feminist is a hairy-legged, bra-burning, man-hating behemoth of a woman, the stark reality is that feminists come from differing ethnicities and tax brackets. Feminism is an idea that still lives on today, because unfortunately, in 2017, women still have to defend the idea that they should be treated like human beings. In my hometown, declaring oneself as a feminist is setting one up for getting called a “Killary supporter,” a “baby killer,” and a “man-hater.” Many women from my hometown identify with the ideals of feminism, yet they are unwilling to call themselves feminists because they are weary of criticism and ridicule. Most women from my hometown fail to realize that “feminism” is not a four-letter word.
Feminism is not radical; the hope of equality is not radical.
5. “Women shouldn’t be president.”
My female boss first expressed this sentiment after it was announced that Hillary Clinton was going to be the Democratic Party’s 2016 presidential nominee. She went on to justify this statement, using skewed logical claims, such as “women are too emotional and therefore can’t make good decisions” and “God wouldn’t want a woman to be in a position of power.” You would think that this mentality would’ve died off in the 21st century, but unfortunately there still happens to be zealous Phyllis Schlafly-like believers who will not rest until women are returned to their rightful place as submissives.
While these common phrases might at first seem like they were taken out of a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, the skewed traditional views behind them are far more disturbing. Unfortunately, the South represents the last fragment of the United States that is intent on maintaining a society built upon passive racist and sexist tendencies.
