This isn’t cosplay.
Alice Mongkongllite / Taylor Miller / BuzzFeed
When you're too nice, too wishy-washy, or too self-deprecating, people tend to walk on you like a doormat. I don't blame them. I'm pretty much lying at their feet, yelling, "Do it! Walk on me, I love the feel of heels jabbing into my chest!"
I have trouble with passiveness, since I'm wary of being overly aggressive, or being seen as a too bossy or — god forbid — a total bitch. It's true some of my issues are steeped in unfair gender dynamics, but I want to take action now. It's at the point where my lack of assertiveness is negatively affecting me everywhere:
At Home: I've never confronted my landlord. Renting sucks because you have no say. Currently, my landlord won't renew our lease because he wants his daughter to move in. He emailed weeks ago, and I STILL HAVEN'T RESPONDED. Talk about passive.
At Work: I've never asked for a raise, and I've never gotten one. I'm in my late 20s, and I've never felt confident enough in myself and my abilities to ask for a raise. Part of that is from switching jobs often, and never feeling like I put in enough time to deserve one. Being a more assertive person might convince me I do deserve it. But how do I become that person?
If this was going to work, I had to see my plan through all the way, from creating the persona, gaining powers, and fighting my battles. I started by purchasing four costumes. Every superhero alter ego had to have a story. From there, I'd craft my powers and use them to keep my apartment and get a raise.
Alice Mongkongllite / BuzzFeed
