You know what the problem with women is? Standards have been lowered from the way things were ten years ago. Nowadays it's exceptable to go on a "slut walk" in D.C. to promote women's rights to dress slutty. Really?? I highly doubt that this kind of demonstration is going to make the men in this world suddenly realize that they need to...'respect us'.

What confuses me is the fact that we, as women, wish to be treated as equals by men, and yet we are showing them exactly why we shouldn't be respected. But honestly, it all comes down to parenting. I was raised by my mother to value my independence, intelligence and to have self-respect. Yesterday my little brother in fifth grade came home to tell my mom that the little girl who just invited him to a birthday party wants Victoria's Secret for her birthday.

When I was a kid growing up in the 90's, I wanted toys like Barbies, Polly Pocket, and Aaron Carter music (don't judge). Something must be seriously wrong with the up and coming generation if they are asking for Victoria's Secret at the age of 11.

This brings me to my overall point that in order for women to start being respected in this world they need to start respecting themselves. The clothing we wear, the ease with which we give away our bodies, and the things we allow our children to say and do now are the reason behind sexism.

One of the best examples I have of this is my first-hand experience with College Life. I attend a private small town college that I've grown to really love, but of course it doesn't come without it's quirks and eye-opening experiences. I'm not a fan of drinking, mostly because I believe that one can have fun without the influence of alcohol :) That being said, many people on college campuses all over the world tend to get smashed on a regular basis. It's sad because many of my girlfriends end up making really regretable decisions after a night of drinking. These decisions usually involve having sex with a random guy on campus. Call me old school but this is something I have a HUGE problem with.

In order to have self-respect like I said, your body should not be something so easily given away. And yet...so many college girls do just this, and then get upset when labelled "easy" or a "slut". The bottom line is don't get upset when you were asking for it. And don't ask for respect and independence when you don't excercise those two choices yourself.

I crave the day when I can become friends with a few women that have the same morals as me, but those seem to be few and far between. I also crave the day when I can meet a guy that will respect the fact that I am NOT easy, and that I deserve more than a few drunken minutes in a dinky dorm room.

Ladies, respect yourselves, re-evaluate the meaning of independence, and don't give away yourselves so easily. You ARE worth more than that. And life MEANS more than that :)