Everyone heads to their classes in straight lines when the bell rings, reminding me once again how messed up and juvenile the public school system is, something about it all gives prison vibes, vibes which I don't like.
Needless to say, I head to class regardless, because whether or not I like it, Faye thinks this is the only path to success. I don't think this is the only path to success though, because honestly speaking, I'll never need Y=mx+b in my day to day life, we just do this for status. It's cold outside, and most of the time, we're not allowed o bring blankets, they just trust the poor heating that the government provides, today is no exception. I look over at Delilah, who is sitting behind me, she's quivering, a clear sign that we should've stayed at home. "are you warm?" she mouths to me, speaking over Mrs Smith, our political science teacher, "yeah, I'm warm" I look back and say, afraid of giving too much of an answer because honestly, being kicked out of this class isn't on my to do list.
"Ms Pierre," Mrs Smith says, skipping over a few people in front of me, "we're just going to do your presentation today, we don't have much time"
Without any word, I stand up, fixing the hem of my brown sweater before heading to the front of the class, I sure as hell hope I brainstorm this good enough because I know I didn't do any research.
"Misogyny is the hatred of women, or simply the belief that women are inferior to men, this plays into everyday things like who cooks and cleans, or how we view young girls as just baby makers, or how when we call girl 'females' we're reducing them to their reproductive organs and fertility" I take a break to get approval from my friends, but instead am met with Mrs Smith nodding at me, which is always a good sign, "misogyny often leads to harmful ideologies such as domestic abuse, rape, and even femicide. Let me explain, when you believe that you are superior to someone, you believe you have power over them, not only to do what you want to them, but also to make them do what you want, and that's what leads to men thinking beating, raping, and killing women makes them look strong, when I reality, it only exposes how feminism has exposed men's weakness."
A few people in the class clap, a good indicator, and Mrs Smith gestures for me to get back in my seat.
"Now, what do we thing about Doms answer, what are your opinions?"
The boy behind me, Jeremy, lifts his hand up, "well, I think Dom totally missed the point, the point is, women aren't even strong enough to defend themselves."
I rush to defend myself, "well, judging by the fact that we birthed all of you, who's not strong enough?"
"I'm not saying women aren't strong. I'm just saying men invented everything"
"Marie Curie was the first person to ever win two Nobel prizes in different fields of science, she discovered two elements, and she did all this at a time when women weren't even allowed to go to school, ask yourself, are women stupid, or do men feel threatened by us so they haven't given us the platform to invent anything?"
" still think men are smarter." Jeremy adds for a last word, not providing any statistics or proof, which just let's me know he doesn't know what he's talking about.
"Jeremy, meet me in room 4 for detention after school for the next 2 weeks" Mrs Smith says, gathering her things because she knows it's almost time to leave class "why isn't Dom getting detention?" he asks, "because Dom didn't come into my class to insult women, can everyone please pack their things and head to the next class, have a nice day."