Sugar and spice and everything nice
Although right now I feel more like ice
The injustice makes my head spin
It’s such a long list,
Where do I begin?
A guy’s opinion is listened to,
A girl’s is pushed aside and discarded
We’re supposed to need help,
Be damsels in distress with our delicate feminine charm,
But crying makes us whiny,
Make up your mind,
Why dont’cha?
It isn’t fair and isn’t right
Girls should be a housewife but also a temptress
Make you sandwiches while being independent
When the husband makes more money it’s only right and proper,
But when the girl brings in the cash the guy gets major
backlash,
Because oh my god he got beaten by a girl?
This proves he’s not “a real man”
He got beaten by the weaker sex
Beautiful maidens,
Supposed to be the symbol of innocence
Also supposed to have three kids
Before she’s even thirty
Tell us to take off the makeup because we should be natural,
Tell us we’re a fake,
We’re false advertising that already have a domestic fate
Say to be confident,
Yet hate when we are
Say short hair is boyish,
Get annoyed when we grow it
As a girl,
I can tell you I’m not taken seriously,
Told I shouldn’t dress like that if I’m not asking for
attention,
Would wearing a nun’s habit finally make you happy?
Say girls are too desperate,
That all we want is a man,
Yet there seems to be no shortage of movies
that would never pass the Bechtel test
Say girls are crazy and way too possessive,
That we scare you,
When we’ve been taught from day one
To compete in pursuing your affections
Taken out of class because our clothes are too “distracting”
When we disagree we’re catty, because girls should only be quiet
and sweet
But when men fight,
It’s badass,
We’re in for a real treat
Girls can only be straight,
Except for the sexual gratification of men,
In which case it’s “hot”
And not at all genuine
When a guy sleeps around,
He’s cheered along and
Considered a stud,
When a girl does it,
She just wants attention
Say feminists are crazy,
That we’re evil,
Can’t say I’m shocked,
That you’re doing witch hunts again
You tell me that women get handed everything to them on a silver
platter,
But if I did,
If we did,
Then
why would this poem even matter?
By:
Zamira Sigel-Kulick
I love this, Zamira. It really speaks to the dualities and issues of being a young woman and growing into your true self today. I like how you point out that projecting the values and personality traits that we, as a society, say we value than opens you up to criticism. Very nice work/
ReplyDeleteZamira, i think that you used this poem to great effect in pointing out the double standards as they apply to females in our society. I found your last stanza to be especially powerful." you tell me that women get handed everything to them on a silver platter, but if I did ,If we did, then why would this poem even matter?
ReplyDeleteexcellent piece. Please keep writing!
I agree with Larry that your ending is very powerful. Your use of questions is effective throughout, but the last one is especially strong: "Then why would this poem even matter?"
DeleteZamira~ this piece really echoes the sentiments of many women. Despite chronology and the 19th Amendment, there is still MUCH work to be done and UNDONE in the arena of gender equity.
ReplyDeleteThe exploitation of women and the modern unspoken standards to which we are held truly resonates in the tone of your poem. I connected with it...and that's the most gratifying gift of writing...when others connect.
Zamira~ this piece really echoes the sentiments of many women. Despite chronology and the 19th Amendment, there is still MUCH work to be done and UNDONE in the arena of gender equity.
ReplyDeleteThe exploitation of women and the modern unspoken standards to which we are held truly resonates in the tone of your poem. I connected with it...and that's the most gratifying gift of writing...when others connect.
Very powerful poem. We have come a long way, but still have a very long road ahead of us. When I graduated high school the choices were nurse, teacher or sales clerk. Most girls who went to college were looking for their MRS.. I am very proud of you. Your writing is excellent. Keep giving a voice to the issues that we need to face.
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