I don’t understand a lot. I know, I’m only 16 and only certain parts of life make sense to me. But the following paragraphs are things that at age 16 I feel like I have grasped faster than people 4x my age. Yet, their mindset stays the same and the conversation ends with “It’s just not how it works”. Things to me seem so basic, so logical, so simple; but some people just can’t get behind.

I don’t understand how people don’t care about each other’s feelings. As something as simple as educating themselves in the LGBTQIA+ community or just not using a person’s dead name, why wouldn’t people respect that? Or even using preferred pronouns, if you don’t know them I can understand that. You accidentally use the wrong pronouns, they tell you, you stop. Simple. But when people repeatedly go out of their way to use dead names and use the wrong pronouns is just arrogant and disrespectful. Something so simple as pronouns can make or break people’s day, why make them upset for no reason? I don’t get it.

I don’t understand how men painting their nails and having style how makes them “gay”. So they like having a good sense of style, that’s positive and who they want to be. It’s their body, they can style it however they want, whenever they want. People shouldn’t be stopping or judging them from doing what they want to do. Not their style? That’s fine, no one is always going to agree on everything. There’s just no reason to judge them based on their style. People never know the whole story, maybe they take pride in their style. Others stomping all over it is degrading and hurtful, what do they gain from that? I don’t get it.

I don’t understand how women are still pressured to fit the ideal body standard that was created by men ages ago. We have the data, they’re unhealthy, unrealistic, and demeaning. Everyone should know this. But the minute a female over 120 pounds shows a little bit of skin, everyone gets uncomfortable. Why? A female at 120 pounds as a teen is normal, for certain people. For some, it isn’t. Or, if a girl’s face is “unattractive” people pick on her, telling them she needs makeup and/or surgery. Why? It does it’s job, and just because you don’t have the perfect nose shape or size, or your eyes are “too big”, it’s still natural. It’s normal, even though people don’t act like it is. I don’t get it.

I don’t understand why men are looked down upon for showing their emotions. Just because their gender is male doesn’t make them any less human. Feeling is natural, and it’s better for mental health, rather than to bottle up emotion and act like nothing happened. If it hurts, it’s still important and valid. Feelings are meant to be expressed, either through verbal, style, art, videos, or even writing. Something so simple can change their entire life. Yet, people invalidate the way men feel, who are they to speak on your emotions and decide them for guys? Because some old men with no scientific data said so in the 1800s? I don’t get it.

If you have information to help me understand, contact me at [email protected]. I am always trying to grow as a person and see life from different perspectives.