Blogging
From Abroad

One of the first questions I get from girls after the typical conversations starters (Where are you from…yada yada) is “Do you have a boyfriend?” I laugh a bit, and think to myself, did they really just ask that, and then respond no. I mean come on, I love being young, not tied down, and feeling accomplished. But once I return the question I get a polar opposite response.

If shes ‘in a relationship’ (gotta love facebook lingo) her face lights up when she answers “YES!” But if shes not, they’ll lower their head, escape eye contact, and speak a soft “no”. You can sense the disappointment immediately. One girl even answered me with, “No because I’m not beautiful.” !!!!!! GASP! I was in complete shock. I wish I could have mumbled out the words, “Honey, we need to talk.” because this girl was indeed beautiful, inside and out. Why did she feel that she wasn’t beautiful simply because she didn’t have a boyfriend????

In conclusion, peer pressure to be in relationships is universal but I feel that in Asia cultures women find much more self worth in a significant other.

So this ones for you Susan B. Anthony. Props to you and women rights.