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If I were a Man

May Chen

I have been decided to be a female by the God since my mother was pregnant. I cannot choose my gender. Whenever I have menstrual cramps, I always think the “why I am a female?” or “why do I have to suffer from this pain every month?” The menstrual cramp is not really like a disease, but it makes me suffer from a serious pain and puke every time. I have to stay at home and lie down on the bed for more than one day. The pain has bothered me for nine years. For this reason, if I could choose my gender in my next life, I would like to be a man and do a lot of things that a woman cannot do.

If I were a man, the first thing I would do is to go traveling with friends or stay outside alone at night. My parents always make a phone call to me when I go out with friends, no matter whether it is daytime or night. The reason is that it is easier to encounter dangerous things for “girls” than boys. When going out, I am limited by my gender and I have to pay attention to bad guys and avoid all possible dangerous things happening to a girl. If I were a man, I did not need to be limited so much, and my parents would not have to worry about my safety all the time.

The second thing I would do is to swim every day in the summer and take a hot spring bath whenever I want in the winter. I like to play in the water although I am not very good at swimming. During a menstrual period, I cannot swim or take a hot spring bath. The only thing I can do is just watching others having fun there. I hate having a menstrual period every month. If I did not have to go through this, I would feel happier than I am now. I would go swimming whenever I liked. I could go to the beaches or just swim in pools with my family and friends. Every day is a free day for me.

The last thing I would do is to take off my shirts in hot summer days. I do not think women can do this at will. It is quite rude and inappropriate for women to do so when they are with others in public. If I were a man, when I took off my shirts, my family would not blame me and I would not feel embarrassed. Then I would not smell stinky because of the wet shirts from a lot of sweat.

Some women may say that it is troublesome to take financial responsibility for a family and to serve as a soldier when being a man, so that they may prefer delivering a baby and taking care of children at home. However, it would be interesting for me to change my gender to be a man. I believe that I would change my personality and act totally different from what I am now. I am not sure how my life would be if I were a man, but I would try my best to take on this role successfully.