This is My Story

I am a student at the University of Guelph, majoring in psychology and CJPP. I have always had a passion in advocating for human rights, whether it’s through organizations like Me to We, working at shelters, or just speaking up about an issue.

The piece I created for the Give a Sh*t festival is meant to speak to an experience that women face everyday. Growing up, women are taught that the issues they face only make them stronger; that the skills we are taught to cope with discrimination make us “elegant”. Not only do these teachings diminish the issues that women face on a daily basis, but they lead to more and more burnouts among women. The constant need to defend oneself is exhausting; the fact that women still grow while facing such scrutiny demonstrates such ferocity.

Women still face discrimination. We’ve come a long way, but I feel like people forget that it still exists. It affects our health, our safety, and our mental well-being. Women are truly fierce for growing on a personal level while having to fight for equality in every moment.

Follow Jenna on Instagram at @jenna_sykes_