To My Little Brother — May You Always Be A Feminist

I believe in you, I believe in boys, I believe you can change things if you want to.

By

A young boy and a lady standing on a hill in Los Angeles watching the sunset
Vasile Tiplea / Unsplash

I wish mom was a writer to do something like this, because it would probably have more impact on you, but well, I happened to be the writer of the family, so here it goes.

You’ve always been a good kid, I know you’ve got a good heart, and I am sure you will always do good. But I want you to be aware.

Boys your age, or a little bit older, are broken and are already starting to do things I want you to know about. Boys across sea are buying guns, driving to their schools and shooting their friends, teachers and any human that cross their path.

Why are guys your age losing the plot? Why are they so broke, that they are driven to do these brutal and unacceptable acts? What is going through their minds?

At the same time these things are happening, other men, guys, boys, males are sexually assaulting girls, women, females all over the world.

I want you to remember this word: consent. They need to be consent love. Don’t you ever forget that.

Be the biggest feminist you can be. Learn how to respect and love women, of every age, skin colours, shape, nationality and roots.

Learn to be kind, and respectful and a good listener. Share this with your friends. Educate yourself, educate them as well. Spread the good news and information, learn what’s good and what’s wrong. You are the new generation, you are the millennials.

Prove you are all worth it and that you one day will change the world.

Love the girlfriend you have, and the ones you will have. Respect her and respect the future ones.

Remember, now and forever, that a NO, is a NO. They mean it, it’s NO.

Don’t invade their personal space, do not force them, do not obligate them to do anything they do not feel comfortable doing.

Be a gentleman, always be a gentleman. Never a wolf.

Read articles, papers, memorize what rape is and it actually means. You need to be aware of what it is, because no everyone is going to be good, but you will.

Stick to the good lane.

That is my biggest wish and hope for you, as a sister, as a woman.

I believe in you, I believe in boys, I believe you can change things if you want to.

It’s okay to be vulnerable, it’s okay to have ups and downs, to be worried, to have anxiety, to be sad, and mad and then happy again. That’s what being a teenager means. It’s okay.

It’s not going to be easy, but it’s going to be worth it.

You’re going to be an amazing man, a lovely caring man.

You can be whoever you want to be, work hard for it and be humble.

Don’t settle to be average, be unique. Be wonderful and extraordinary.

But above all, be a feminist. It’s the best thing I can wish for you. Thought Catalog Logo Mark


About the author

Laura Pioli

Writer, phone-a-holic, instagrammer, iced coffee addict (okay, mostly that last one).