Letters to Electra - I May Have Returned(?)

Friday, 24th of March, 2017

Dear Electra,

As I write this, I have a formal writing piece due tomorrow, an annotated script and algebra homework due on Monday, and a pile of dishes to wash, yet here I am right now having made the spontaneous decision to update this old blog. Oh, and I'm supposed to be asleep right now (It is currently 9:00pm). In that case, I deserve a warm welcome back from the dead. 

How long has it been since I wrote to you? A year? Meh, I won't check in fear of reading through the letters crafted by such naive fingers; letters that have 'braggart' scrawled between each word. Recalling from my oh so wise memory, I wrote about having fear of the future, underdeveloped feminist propaganda, and being pretentious. As if these sentiments don't make you want to swallow your disgust. 

What else has changed about me? Let's see, enthusiasm has escaped from my aura (which has been replaced by the beautiful essence of bitterness), I pull the most traumatised of faces when I'm deep in thought, I prefer to think more than act. Indeed, Electra, a year's worth of events can transform someone.

Well, this letter is a mess. I'm getting tired now. Good night. Who knows if I continue to write more of these in the future. 

Stay powerful and beautiful as usual,

- Marian 

Letters to Electra ~ In the Face of Overwhelming Odds

15th of February, 2016

Dear Electra,

Three weeks into the new school year and so far I am still alive. Within these three weeks of inactive blogging, I honestly haven't completed as many things as I planned to and life has become lackadaisical. I haven't written as much, whether it be in the form of writing letters to you or writing stories for Mercina (the protagonist in my book). I need to figure out how to maintain my creativity for long periods of time.

On the topic of writing, I want to take a break from blogging to write my book. Turns out writing a book is one of the most difficult and exhausting tasks I've committed myself to. Before I came to this decision, I realised I had to write stories whilst generating new ideas for this blog. As every writer should know, it takes a lot of creativity to create content for different things. If you're one of the lucky writers who can generate ideas for different writing ventures at once, shame on you (that means you should give me your powers -- I am envious of your incredible talent).

This year for school I'm studying for NCEA and, obviously, I'm terrified. Besides being terrified, I know studying for this will occupy my time for writing, also remembering that I have other commitments such as music and keeping my health intact. If I focus on Mercina, my grades will fall apart and I will possibly lose my spot in the NCEA class. If I focus on school, I will live in the gloom that my book will never be written when I'd like to finish it. If you know me well, not fulfilling my literary ambitions will leave a heavy burden on me (notice how dramatic that sentence was?).

So, Electra, what I'm trying to convey here is that life's main intention is to bring these situations where you need to balance everything. If you fail, then continue to create new challenges that will teach you the element of balance.

Stay powerful and beautiful as usual,

- M ★ 

Letters to Electra ~ Welcome to the World of Classical Music

25/01/16

Dear Electra,

Although we're almost a month into 2016, I want to greet you a happy new year. I've decided that the wait for the first day of school would be too long and I've missed writing to you. In between the hiatus I've been writing my book, reading a lot of stories and listening to new types of music.

My new favourite music genre happens to be classical music. It's a beautiful rest from listening to songs with vocals. I adore how classical music is able to tell stories without words and instead uses tones, textures and a variety of musical instruments. As I write this, I'm listening to Cristofori's Dream, a piece I discovered last midnight when I couldn't get to sleep. After listening to it a billion amount of times I went to bed, anticipating the morning when I could listen to it again. If you're new to the genre of classical music, Electra, I definitely recommend this piece. It will immediately pull you into the brilliant world of instrumentals.

Once you've listened to your first piece of classical music, please write to me and describe how it makes you feel. Does it empower you, or does it feel like a hurricane in your ears?

Stay powerful and beautiful as usual,
- M ★ 

Letters to Electra - How to be a Woman (Part 2)

14/12/15

This is part 2 of 'How to be a Woman'. To read part 1, simply scroll down a post or click on this link.

Dear Electra,

As you've read from part 1 of this topic, there are no rules for being a woman, but yet everyone around me recommends that there are special traits you need to successfully be a female. In this post, let's analyse each ridiculous rule from part 1 and reverse it.

  1. "Always listen to what people have to say about you and act upon it. If they say you're too ugly, add a little bit of makeup on your face."

There's so much negativity in this world that you can't help but succumb to what people have to say. Society demands unrealistic expectations from everybody, but when you look at it realistically they're aiming to change girls the most. If you're receiving hate, don't change anything and keep on doing what you love. If it becomes overwhelming, feel free to reveal your sassy side. That will shut them up.

  2. "You must keep your room neat. You're a woman, not a boy."

This rule not only focuses on keeping your room neat because of your gender, but maintaining stereotypes in everything you do. Everybody knows about gender stereotypes, like how 'girls have to be prim and proper'. All genders should be free to oppose these ridiculous stereotypes. 

  3. "You must wear dresses that reach the ankle. No pants, no leggings and certainly no booty shorts."
I can't count how many articles I've read about how girls should dress. Schools and workplaces all over the world have the craziest dress codes that target girls. I read one article where a girl who wore a skirt that covered her knees but still was asked to change to a 'more suitable outfit'. I believe that everyone should wear whatever they want to, as long as they're comfortable. 

  4. "You must shave off every single follicle of hair that is found on you -- most importantly, the hair on your head."
Why do men get away with wearing beards and having unshaved arms, but yet when women have a little bit of peach fuzz it's the main issue on the table? Women, especially teenage girls, shouldn't be reprimanded about this at all. It persuades us to become insecure.

  5. "You must not get an education but learn to become a housewife. Without the woman, a house is not a home."
Another rule about gender stereotypes. I watched a video from Buzzfeed where they ask strangers to associate a mix of people with different occupations. The strangers linked the women with female-dominated careers (e.g. nursing), and the men with male-dominated careers (e.g.fields in science). In reality, the women were in science careers and the men worked for childcare. This video proved that women can handle what men can do, and vice versa. 

  6. "You must not play sports. It is forbidden for women to sweat a droplet as this affects their ladylike-ness. Women are also banned from showing some kind of strength."
This is the rule where I cringe the most. In some parts of the world, women are forced to stay out of fields where men are dominating, such as sports. Women are forced to maintain the house rather than participating in sports. Sports help people to gain skills in sportsmanship, teamwork, body and logic skills. I think it's important for everyone to experience that.

  7. "You must not leave the house without a man. What will happen if you get lost in the middle of nowhere?" 
This is the only rule in this list where I believe applies to the real world. I've watched videos where women are sexually harrassed on the streets and basically everywhere they go. Sometimes to stop that harrassment you'd have to be accompanied by a man. Reality sucks, right?

  8. "You must not have any weapons on you. This includes pepper spray, tasers and anything hard like a book. "
However, if a man can't accompany you everywhere you go, feel free to defend yourself with anything. 


To all the women/girls out there, be strong and defy stereotypes. Show the world how strong you can be.

Stay powerful and beautiful as usual,
- M ★ 

Letters to Electra - How to be a Woman (Part 1)

13/12/15

Dear Electra,

Throughout the years I've lived as a female, I've looked up to other women and have followed their teachings. Here's what I found out:

How to be a Woman

Rules according to older women (and some men)

Please read until the very end.

1. Always listen to what people have to say about you and act upon it. If they say you're too ugly, add a little bit of makeup on your face. 
2. You must keep your room neat. You're a woman, not a boy.
3. You must wear dresses that reach the ankle. No pants, no leggings and certainly no booty shorts.
4. You must shave off every single follicle of hair that is found on you -- most importantly, the hair on your head.
5. You must not get an education but learn to become a housewife. Without the woman, a house is not a home.
6. You must not play sports. It is forbidden for women to sweat a droplet as this affects their ladylike-ness. Women are also banned from showing some kind of strength.
7. You must not leave the house without a man. What will happen if you get lost in the middle of nowhere? 
8. You must not have any weapons on you. This includes pepper spray, tasers and anything hard like a book. 
9. And most importantly,

BREAK ALL THE RULES.

All throughout my life, I've been reprimanded for doing "unladylike" things such as speaking out about something or keeping my room a little bit messy. These things shouldn't be looked upon as "disgusting" or anything bad. If I want to speak out about things or leave my room the way it is, let me. 

Stay powerful and beautiful as usual,
- M ★ 

Letters to Electra - A Battle of Changes

5/12/15

Dear Electra,

SCHOOL FINISHED YESTERDAY! I'm confused about how I feel about this. This school year I've made so many connections to people my past self wouldn't even talk to. I've put myself in risks that have challenged my anxiety. I've changed.

Change is frightening. At one stage you're getting on with life as usual, and then BAM! You're placed in a new situation. But what if we never experience change? That would be tedious and weary. Imagine if we repeated everything. One season, one year in school, one routine. Even though I'm a conservative person, thinking about the latter makes me cringe.

In the end, change is good. Change stimulates us to adapt to new situations. Without change, we would never discover our strengths, weaknesses and personalities.

Stay powerful and beautiful as usual,
- M ★ 

Letters to Electra - Elaine and Rochelle

27/11/15

Dear Electra,

I can't believe there are such things as coincidences. It just happens that Elaine, my friend, and Rochelle, my sister, share a birthday, which also happens exactly one month before Christmas. Since it is a tradition on Electra and Marian to describe a personal story I share with the people celebrating their birthdays, I'm going to write about both Elaine and Rochelle respectively.

Fun fact: I've known Gwen, Charisma and Anjeline since primary school and Sera since year seven, but Elaine is relatively new to my friendship circle. We did know about each other's presence in year seven, but we never talked to each other. Our first conversation happened on our way back from a school trip in year eight. Since Gwen, being the only friend I had at that time, didn't attend the school trip, I was a little bit wary of the people on the bus. When the bus was about to move I had no choice but to sit next to a random girl.
"Hello. So, what would you like to be when you grow older?" I asked awkwardly as she turned her head away from the window. We had just visited a careers expo.
"I don't know, maybe something artsy? Maybe fashion designing," Elaine replied.
"I'd love to become a psychologist."
"Really? My mum's a psychologist. She helps women, specifically those who have gone through pregnancies."
Elaine, if you're reading this, I'd like you to know that I appreciate you as a friend. I love the logical conversations we have and the eternal list of puns you say every time we meet. I'm glad I have a friend who also understands the power of literature. Happy belated birthday.

Being the only sister I have, Rochelle is like the teddy bear I've had since kindergarten - full of memories but huggable all the same. It's hard to pick a memory from someone who I see every day. I guess the best memories I have of her are when we talk to each other and bond over her eight-year-old thoughts. Like every time we hop on the trampoline, whenever she blows bubbles or helping her to read books. Reading books with her seems the most significant, since reading is something we have in common - maybe the only quality we share is our infatuation for reading!
Rochelle, if you're also reading this, please do me a favor: grow up to be ready for the world. You're still eight years old, which gives you the chance to develop and cram as many things into your head before you turn into an angsty teenager like me. You're the best sister I will ever have in my life, no matter how we turn out in the future. Mum, Dad, and I all love you.

Stay powerful and beautiful as usual,
- M ★