Women.
Women.
Smart. Articulate. Knowledgeable.
But don’t talk too loudly.
Women.
Bold. Strong. Daring.
But do not draw attention to yourself.
Women.
Powerful. Brave. Courageous.
But don’t stick up for yourself.
Women.
Resourceful. Intuitive. Diligent.
But please act as the damsel in distress.
97% of women have been sexually harassed.
That is too many.
And you say no, no, no
‘I would never do that to a woman’
Strange though because last week I saw your friend harassing a girl
She was just stood at the bar
And behind him I could see
Your laughing face and beaming eyes.
Men are not all the same
Okay fair point
But why should us women have to distinguish
Between the ones who are nice and the ones who are not so
When we are walking home.
Men make it hard
For women to dress up enough
To make them feel good
But to make sure they are covering enough skin
And why does a wardrobe consist of clothes
That are blamed for ‘asking for it’
If I am wearing a bin bag, I am not asking for it.
If I am wearing a short skirt, I am not asking for it.
I am just not asking for it.
Do you get it?
Too many men will stand aside
Watching the world go by
And allowing their friends to morph
Into the monsters that harass and assault
And follow women home.
And what is a harmless touch from an interested man?
Nothing, surely.
Is what you men will say.
The classic ‘it’s not that deep’ comment.
But when women are
Assaulted
Kidnaped
Murdered
I think it is deep enough.
We are women.
We are sisters.
We are aunties.
We are mums.
We are daughters.
We are grandmothers.
And it is funny
Because you want to protect your sister
From men who just want one thing
But when you leave the house
You become one of those men yourself.
Men are lucky.
Privileged.
Safe.
Because they can walk down the street and not have to carry their keys in between their knuckles.
What a life.
I wish it were that simple for women.
It is tragically devastating that women automatically know not to walk alone with headphones in.
Know to share their location whilst in a taxi.
And please, run if you see someone catching up with you.
We can try.
Please.
Can we try and turn this around
Because what I hate is seeing girls and women being hurt like this
Including myself.
I want to be the bold person I am.
My sister wants to wear that dress because she looks amazing in it.
My grandma wants to walk to the shops by herself.
My mum wants to park in a car park without fear.
My auntie wants to get in a taxi and feel fine.
My daughter wants to socialise in a bar.
We want to live.
To just live.
What is wrong with that?
Men.
Let us be the powerful women we are
Without body shaming
Without harassing
Without catcalling
Without whistling
Without touching
Us.
Men — listen and act.
Speak up to your friends.
Because that woman at the bar could have been your sister in another life.
And all she wants is to live free.
To live as a woman.
