Leslie M.B.

I’m writing this post out of pure frustration because I’ve had enough of the lies society feeds us, especially as women. How many times have you been told to “be good,” “do this,” or “act like that” to keep a man or make him treat you better? To avoid him cheating or leaving? To stand out against other women? It’s exhausting, isn’t it? And honestly, it’s bullshit.

Sis, let me tell you something: you are the prize. Read that again. YOU are the prize. These men should be working overtime to win you over, not the other way around. Yet, we’re programmed to believe that we have to shrink ourselves, compete, and beg for mediocre love from men who can’t even show basic respect. Why? Why do we accept less when we deserve so much more?

Let’s be real. As women, we endure monthly periods, carry children, go through childbirth (which literally pushes us to the edge of life and death), and then we face menopause—all while juggling societal pressure to conform and cater to men’s wants and needs. And for what? To please a man who probably doesn’t even appreciate you? A man who might disrespect you to your face or behind your back? I don’t know about you, but I’m done. Enough is enough.

Stop settling for crumbs. Stop tolerating disrespect. Stop believing the lie that you have to “fix yourself” to keep a man. If he can’t love you at your best or worst, if he can’t step up and treat you like the queen you are, then he’s not worth your time. Period.

And let’s not even get started on the double standards. Why is it that when relationships or marriages go south, it’s the WOMAN who gets all the blame? “Be patient. Be understanding. Be better.” Meanwhile, the man gets a free pass to continue being trash. They tell us, “It’s the woman who loses the most in divorce,” or, “Think about your kids.” But no one ever tells HIM to step up or change. Nah, they’d rather see you suffer in silence than hold him accountable.

Here’s the truth they don’t want you to know: staying in a toxic relationship for the sake of appearances will destroy you. You’ll lose yourself trying to make a broken man whole, and in the end, he’ll still blame you for his failures. So stop. Choose YOU. Walk away from anything or anyone who doesn’t serve your growth. Yes, it’ll be hard, but you’re stronger than you think. And when you do, don’t let anyone guilt-trip you into staying where you don’t belong.

To all the women reading this: you’re the prize, the table, and the whole damn kingdom. Start acting like it. If someone doesn’t recognise your worth, that’s their loss, not yours. So take back your power, set your standards high, and don’t apologise for expecting better. Because you deserve it.

Enough is enough. Stop settling, stop conforming, and start living for YOU.