It was a ‘rough’ trip. The stewardess was brute from departure to arrival. I kept wondering what happened to this position over the last few years, since it used to be such an elegant one during my childhood. They used to be extremely nice, their clothes extremely elegant, and their way of handling everything in the plane extremely graceful. For some reason, now it’s like having a waitress in a bad mood serve you for 10 hours straight.

I kept telling myself that I shouldn’t worry about it, that soon, I’d be back home and everything would be great.

Then there were the bags… they were heavy, too heavy for me. I managed to get them but when it was time to put them on the trolley, it felt as though I were playing. The trolley wouldn’t stay put and sweat began making its way down my forehead. I looked around to see if anyone would help me a little, but all I could see were people enjoying the sight of me looking like a fool.

Nobody helped and everything took an extra long time for me that day. Honestly, I wanted to cry… what’s the matter with people these days? Where are all the gentlemen? Where’s the usual neighborly spirit?

One of the worst consequences of women’s liberation is this: men got an indirect message that said they no longer need us. I feel this in my skin every time I’m carrying a whole bunch of bags and no one offers to help me carry them… every time I need to sit down and no one gives up their seat for me.

Thank God that I have a man who still sees my need for him, and how I desperately need to be led by him. At least he carries my bags, offers me his seat, and never ever lets me carry anything heavy.

I guess these days we need to ask for help, something we didn’t need back in the day… the good news is that there are few men who still see us as ladies. The bad news is that they’re in extinction.

Cristiane Cardoso