I "run like a girl".
That's what they told me
on the school yard.
I didn't take steps big enough.
I wasn't like a boy.
I "talk like a girl".
That's what they said to me
when I was telling a story.
I talked too much.
I wasn't like a boy.
I'm "too weak".
That's what they said to me
when I asked to help carry chairs.
I was a girl.
I wasn't like a boy.
I'm a "man-hater".
That's what they called me
when I defended women's rights.
I believe in equality.
I am a woman.
I'm "radical".
That's what they yelled at me
when I said pro-choice.
I want safety for women.
I am a woman.
I am "too strong".
That's what they told me
when I took care of myself.
I don't need a man's approval.
I am a woman.
I am a woman.
I am not a man.
I run like a woman,
I talk like a woman.
I am strong like a woman.
I am caring like a woman.
Because I am not a man.
Nov 21, 2025
Nov 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM UTC
I "run like a girl".
That's what they told me
on the school yard.
I didn't take steps big enough.
I wasn't like a boy.
I "talk like a girl".
That's what they said to me
when I was telling a story.
I talked too much.
I wasn't like a boy.
I'm "too weak".
That's what they said to me
when I asked to help carry chairs.
I was a girl.
I wasn't like a boy.
I'm a "man-hater".
That's what they called me
when I defended women's rights.
I believe in equality.
I am a woman.
I'm "radical".
That's what they yelled at me
when I said pro-choice.
I want safety for women.
I am a woman.
I am "too strong".
That's what they told me
when I took care of myself.
I don't need a man's approval.
I am a woman.
I am a woman.
I am not a man.
I run like a woman,
I talk like a woman.
I am strong like a woman.
I am caring like a woman.
Because I am not a man.
I am very passionate about equality and feminism and lately I have felt much more sorrow and anger towards the way women are treated in society and how ignorant people are to that. This poem is something that I've based on my own experiences growing up as a girl in a patriarchal society and what it means to me to be a woman currently.