May 2020
It's funny, they say
Can't you take a joke?
It's funny until
You realize that the most powerful man in the country can admit to ****** assault on live television, and people will wave it off, calling it locker room talk,
Because locker room talk is okay, they'll say
It's funny until
You're still 16 and walking back home from school, only to be howled at the way savage dogs bark and wave their tongues at the sight of fresh meat.
Well you're ugly anyway, they'll say
It's funny until
You're a liar for standing up for yourself and calling for a change
What do you mean? There is no gap in pay,
That's what they'll say.
It's funny until
Your own father **** shames you for wearing shorts in the summertime because the boys won't be able to take your eyes off of you.
It's not that warm, you can deal with it for a day, they'll say.
What about the men? I ask
What about them? With their bare chests and shorts and their jeans that hang oh so low,
Low,
Low on their hips?
Tell me why a man who sleeps with 6 women is throned by society where a woman who trusts the wrong man with nothing but an image is a *****.
Tell me, why did our teachers ask for 3 strong boys to lift the table while we were being taught that harassment was nothing but an expression of endearment when it was issued by men, fueling thousands of abusive relationships?
And tell me why showing skin is taken as a plea for ****** advances on a woman.
Did the words escape my mouth?
Did you not understand me when I did speak? When my lips formed the word "stop" and traced them over and over a thousand times the way a spiral drawing is formed?
The downward spiral that would soon become my life, and somehow you'd hit me with a line about how you
"Banged three drunk ******* at the party last night"
And laugh when I don't, because it's "just a joke"
Sure, it's funny
Until you live like a woman
Because when you're a woman, you start to realize the harsh reality behind **** jokes and locker talk and compliments from strangers on the streets
It's funny until it's not
Until you realize where your country is headed, and what it means for you as a still 16-year-old girl
It's funny until it's terrifying.
Can't you take a joke?
It's funny until
You realize that the most powerful man in the country can admit to ****** assault on live television, and people will wave it off, calling it locker room talk,
Because locker room talk is okay, they'll say
It's funny until
You're still 16 and walking back home from school, only to be howled at the way savage dogs bark and wave their tongues at the sight of fresh meat.
Well you're ugly anyway, they'll say
It's funny until
You're a liar for standing up for yourself and calling for a change
What do you mean? There is no gap in pay,
That's what they'll say.
It's funny until
Your own father **** shames you for wearing shorts in the summertime because the boys won't be able to take your eyes off of you.
It's not that warm, you can deal with it for a day, they'll say.
What about the men? I ask
What about them? With their bare chests and shorts and their jeans that hang oh so low,
Low,
Low on their hips?
Tell me why a man who sleeps with 6 women is throned by society where a woman who trusts the wrong man with nothing but an image is a *****.
Tell me, why did our teachers ask for 3 strong boys to lift the table while we were being taught that harassment was nothing but an expression of endearment when it was issued by men, fueling thousands of abusive relationships?
And tell me why showing skin is taken as a plea for ****** advances on a woman.
Did the words escape my mouth?
Did you not understand me when I did speak? When my lips formed the word "stop" and traced them over and over a thousand times the way a spiral drawing is formed?
The downward spiral that would soon become my life, and somehow you'd hit me with a line about how you
"Banged three drunk ******* at the party last night"
And laugh when I don't, because it's "just a joke"
Sure, it's funny
Until you live like a woman
Because when you're a woman, you start to realize the harsh reality behind **** jokes and locker talk and compliments from strangers on the streets
It's funny until it's not
Until you realize where your country is headed, and what it means for you as a still 16-year-old girl
It's funny until it's terrifying.
