#yesallwomen poems on Hello Poetry

B Chapman Oct 2017

Me Too

Eight-
In a general store,
the middle of nowhere.
I stared at toys,
oblivious to the stranger too close.
A hand on my backside,
a rub and squeeze.
The cops huffed,
'are you sure it wasn't an accident?'
'Is it really that important?'
Suddenly I knew shame.

Twelve-
Last day of school,
cornered in an empty classroom
by my lifelong bully.
He tore my pink shirt,
grabbed me where Trump would have.
My father helped.
Did what he could.
Told me it wasn't my fault.
But the teacher,
a male who never liked my voice,
groaned in private,
'this will ruin that poor boys life.'
But what about me?

Sixteen-
A class full of people,
feeling pretty as a rare treat.
A boy with a knife
sitting too close,
hand inching up my thigh.
A malicious smile
with a dangerous whisper,
'spread your knees.'
I never told,
It had hardly mattered before.
But that's the last time
I wore a skirt to school.

Eighteen-
The officer taking my prints
made me cringe as he lingered.
His compliments made me shudder
but I told myself I was paranoid.
Leading me to a cell
he offered me a private room
leering as he mentioned
I wouldn't feel alone.
I almost laugh now
at his offer to pay me with juice.
But a year later at the hearing
his lude claims were loud enough
for everyone to hear.
A court room full of people
heard him brag about things
he never did.
Only one person shut him down
without even a word.
Simply a glare of digust
that I was too scared to give.

#metoo #poetryisnotdead #yesallwomen #evensomemen

B Chapman Sep 2017

Not Obligated

If you're such a nice guy,
why get mad
when I won't let you kiss me?

If you're really so kind,
why feel the need
to announce and repeat it?

If you truly deserved my attention,
why get pushy,
deamaning, and pissy?

If I'm just a superficial *****,
then tell me why
you felt the need to beg for me?

If I owed you a chance,
then why aren't I
branded like property?

No means no.
I'm sure you understand,
since you're obviously such a nice
man.

#feminism #notallmen #yesallwomen #rise

Alexandria Hope May 2015

Yes, All Women

It's having to say
I'm a lesbian- I'm pregnant- I have a boyfriend
No, I'm not a lesbian because I haven't been with a real man- yes, really, I'm pregnant it's just not showing yet- Yes he does love me he's just not here because he's working
Because I don't like you, please leave me alone, and no do not work in clubs, on the street, anywhere I go...
It's holding onto a **** whistle, mace, and concealed knife when I go anywhere alone, holding my keys between my fingers when walking down dark, unfamiliar streets.
It's being told not to wear a skirt when I go dancing, because someone will slip their hand under it.
It's wearing shorts and having them shove grimy fingers inside anyway
It's using a fake name, sharing fake contact info, claiming a fake residence so that they don't track you
It's being appalled when some guy from the restaurant tracks you down on social media using the name on your credit card
It's being careful not to let him know you like him because he might take that as consent for more
It's work sending us out in groups to take the trash out at night because it's not safe to walk the alleyway behind the building alone
Unless you're one of my male coworkers
It's being groped and slapped in class and having no one, not even the teacher, challenge my attacker because he's a man and it's all in good humor, right?
It's walking across the street to avoid a guy in pace behind you, even in broad daylight. It's your friend stiffening when they pass on the right.
It's looking rude and foolish when you deny them a handshake, a hug, or a reason. Because they're nice, right? They haven't done anything yet, right? Don't they deserve your respect and interest?
No, maybe not all men are bad. But enough of them are that we have the right to fear and use the hashtag #allmen
Because every woman has been harassed, told that his bullying just means he likes you, taught to just take it. Every woman has been in some sort of situation where a man has made her uncomfortable, and society has done nothing about it.
So yes, #Yesallwomen

#abuse #feminism #****** #**** #yesallwomen #harrasment #allmen

Syd Sep 2014

#YesAllWomen

yes all women

because people cringe at the word "feminism".
because I am not a feminist, I am a woman.
I am a human being.
because this poem is a one-sided sexist rant.
because I was fifteen years old when my mother first taught me about how to hold car keys as a weapon in case anyone ever attacked me.
because teenage girls are taught to never walk alone in a parking garage.
because in elementary school I was told to switch which side of the street I was walking on while going home if a man was approaching me in the same direction.
because when I was twelve my parents gave me my first cell phone for when I was out riding my bike, or taking a walk.
because I can't wear a spaghetti strap tank top to school, as it will "distract the boys".
because boys are distracted by a bony girl in a spaghetti strap tank top.
because freshmen girls are taught not to date senior boys, instead of senior boys being taught not to go after freshmen girls.
because senior boys go after freshmen girls.
because when I was ten years old I told my dad that my grandfather made me feel uncomfortable, and he got angry at me for making such a blasphemous statement.
because even after I told my mother, and she talked to my father, he ignored it completely.
because my grandfather made me, at ten years old, feel uncomfortable.
because when I was fourteen my boyfriend broke up with me since I "didn't put out".
fourteen.
because by ninth grade I had received my first unwanted and unwelcomed advance.
because I didn't tell anyone.
because school administrators turn the other cheek when a girl is ***** in the stairwell.
because **** charges are being dropped by judges.
because victims are being bullied into silence.
because a hashtag is the most sincere form of activism.
because **** is a crime no matter what color you try to paint the picture.

because I will go to bed tonight, after posting this poem, after telling my story, and I will wake up tomorrow.
and nothing will change.

#yesallwomen

Cam Sep 2014

I wish

I wish that women were people.

I wish that no girl will ever again be limited by the norms of our society.
That no girl will be told that she cannot, that she must not.
That her dreams, her personality are inappropriate or wrong.
That colours are not gendered and that she can wear green, blue or yellow as she pleases.

I wish that teenage girls learn to love themselves.
Learn that they are not inferior. That loosing weight,
looking skinny and pretty are not the goals they should starve themselves to reach. That boys are stupid and they don't have to put up with their ****.
That the men who hoot after them, catcall them are creeps unworthy of their attention. That being pressured into stripping on Skype by older men can be reported and that mom in most cases do understand what they're going through.

I wish that young adult women never had to feel pressure to be feminine.
That they never feel forced to shave, to let their hair grow, to wear make-up.
That they never have to force themselves into heels that hurt their feet and learn to spit in the leering faces of men, to say '*******' without fear of being assaulted and knowing full well how to make a man regret putting his gross, entitled hands on them.

I wish that mothers never had to fear for their daughters.
I wish that mothers never had to hold and comfort their baby girls after nightmare parties with monsters masquerading as boys.
I wish that women did not have to live in fear.
I wish we did not have to watch our bodies used as props, sold like pieces of meat at the butcher.
I wish we did not have to fight for the right to own our bodies.
I wish that women knew that 'No' is a complete sentence and needs no justification.

I wish that women knew their worth.

I wish that women knew they were people.

#fear #gender #girls #children #women #feminist #independence #teenagers #yesallwomen #roles

junebabe May 2014

Untitled

because I was raised that having my *** touched was to "take it as a compliment"
because strolling on the streets is nearly impossible
because apparently rejecting a man is just not safe enough, so it's "much easier to give them a fake number"
because "No," simply cannot mean "No"
because women are not entitled to their own body
because "you're asking for it," by articles or clothing
because a hug isn't enough
because he was ***** and couldn't get you while you were conscious
because "boys will be boys"

#women #yesallwomen #hardtruth

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