Dear David,

I heard your message loud and clear:  Females are dangerous. They put others at risk with their self-serving and irresponsible behavior. We have to keep them in check.

I agree with you. As a female, I am dangerous. I see it in male faces quite often just how frightening and unpredictable I am. I’m irresponsible too — I often disregard my role in making sure males feel masculine and in control. Sometimes I am downright rude! I purposefully send the message to males that I am as powerful, or even more powerful, than they are because (sometimes) I am. I feel in my bones the capability to undercut, even destroy, any notion that a man is superior to me. This makes me very dangerous.

I want to take the opportunity to apologize to you for my part in creating a culture where male power continues to be chipped away. Females have all this choice and flexibility now. We really don’t know what to do with ourselves. I think that’s why some of us get angry when we feel the old order imposed on us, when we are told, “you are less. I own you.” Some of us feel like, “the truth is, you don’t.” I understand this has created some tension.

Fortunately, as you know, many people support the old order, how things should really be. Countless beautiful women know they should be treated as nothing more than sexual prizes, of course. They should be lauded for their beauty, which communicates goodness, especially if they understand the universal truth that they will always need the protection of a man, no matter the cost.

I bet you can see now that I really am a dangerous female. I hope none of those beautiful women who still know their place read this. It’s risky, David, because if a beautiful woman reads this and begins to feel in her own bones, her own power, she will stop believing you. She will stop believing anyone who denies her experience, who tells her lies about who she is or what she is worth. Your words will mean nothing to her, nothing at all.

Sincerely,

Andrea Larson

Andrea Larson ([email protected]) is a second year PhD student in the social work department.