By Naomi Gomez/ Gator Galaxy Staff
We all have that awkward situation when we arrive late to an event. It’s even more embarrassing when all the seats are filled and everyone stares at you like you killed someone.
When you finally set your eyes on an open seat, it has to be in the middle of a row and toward the front. You pass by everyone saying “excuse me,” or “pardon me.”
After squeezing through the crowd you finally sit down and the first thing you say is “Sorry.”
According to the article “Women Apologizing More Frequently Than Men Do” by Christie Nicholson in Scientific American, women over apologize two times more than men.
Although women hate to admit it, they do it all the time. It’s a hard habit to break, because many women have been taught to act this way.
According to a North Star male student, who didn’t want to be identified, the role of women is to be “in the house and be caring mother.” This is true in many aspects, but today’s women are more liberal than they use to be. They are still in the house and are caring, but they also have jobs, activites, and take care of their households.
According to the United States Department of Labor, around 57 percent of women participate in the labor force. That is up 11 percent from 10 years ago and up 14.5 percent since the 1980’s. But the word “sorry” has still been an obstacle to many women.
“Sorry” in particular isn’t a bad word, but when used in a way that diminishes you as a person, it is considered one.
Even at North Star, when girls pass by and bump into someone they automatically say, “Sorry.” The thing about this scenario is that neither the girl nor the other person is guilty. The girl didn’t make the hallways crowded and she didn’t mean to collide with other students; there just isn’t enough room to move. Most just feel it is the polite thing to do.
Many times, women are apologizing for something regarding their relationship without really knowing why they are apologizing. In some ways, it’s a defense mechanism. In order to keep things on the right path, women apologize for things that are either out of their control, or something that makes them seem more inferior to men.
Women should strive to be strong, confident, and independent. North Star English teacher Cyndy Maddux, said an independent woman is someone who “is intelligent, has a good sense of who she is, and is aware of others around her.”
So before you rattle off that “sorry,” think about if it is really necessary, or is it just a reflex.