I have since come out of it, but I will never be seen as a woman in her eyes. Growing up, I was taught to be a certain way, to act in a certain way and to never question it. I was taught that I was supposed to be a certain type of woman, and if I didn’t fit that mold, I was wrong. I was made to feel that I had no worth, that I was an outcast, and that I had to hide who I was.
I was scared to be myself, so I stayed in the closet, never allowing anyone to see the real me. I was scared to show my true colors, scared to be judged, scared to be shamed. I felt like I was living in a prison, and I was too scared to ever try to escape.
I was so scared of being judged, that I kept my true self hidden from those closest to me. I was scared of what my family and friends would think, so I kept my true self hidden. I was scared to be seen as different, so I stayed in the shadows, never daring to let anyone know who I really was.
I was scared to be true to myself, scared to be seen as an individual, scared to be seen as a woman. But I have since come to realize that I am more than what society tells me I should be. I am more than a stereotype, I am more than a label, and I am more than what I was taught to be. I am a woman, and I am proud of who I am.
