I live in Morocco and I was 22 YO at the time.

It was summer time and I just wanted to go the beach with my friends.

Now, you may find this weird but being 22 does not make you an independant adult. Unless, you’re a man. Then, you could be could considered as the male ALPHA in the family, even if you don’t really have an income and may be a loser.

(As you are reading this, do not think this is a general rule. It was just my case with my family. My friends were much more free than I were)

My parents wouldn’t let me. Not because, we were a conservative family and wearing a swimsuit would be a shameful thing to do.

Not even because we live in a dangerous country. ( we don’t, BTW. Morocco is really safe )

My parents wouldn’t let me go because I was a female. My brother, who was much much younger, went there with their blessing.

I, had to spend most of my summer days, in my room because I was a female and for that I wasn’t empowered the way my brother was. I was considered weak, incapable of defending myself. I tried to make my case but I was considered as a bad daughter for speaking out.

I though it was sexist and a very selfish thing to do. They only cared about their wellbeing but not mine.

And since speaking out was a dumb thing to do in my family, I just gave them the cold treatment (in a polite way of course ).

My father wouldn’t let my mother have a social life and us, her daughters, were her only friends. So, I just did to her, what she did to me.

Everytime she wanted to go out with me, I said no and she was forced to stay home. She started feeling very isolated and depressed from staying too much at home.

After a while, they did get my point but it was too late. Since, the summer days were over.