it is not just pink for girls
and blue for boys
or laundry for moms
and desk jobs for dads.
it is self confidence plummeting
because your nine year old legs
look different than the others
girls aren’t supposed to be hairy.
it is watching the cheerleading team
through the windows of the gymnasium
hoping the other kids don’t see you
boys are supposed to play basketball.
it is being called bossy
for voicing your ideas
to say what you believe in
girls are supposed to be quiet.
it is a lack of empathy
from years of quieting
your emotions
boys aren’t supposed to cry.
it is being placed in a box
that is too small and
being told to cut off your legs
so you can fit inside it
we are not contortionists.
Jan 10, 2019
Jan 10, 2019 at 8:21 AM UTC