My Brother Vs Me

Dear Mom and Dad,

The difference between him and I

is as apparent as a clear sky

in that he does not have to be shy

or fear that people will ask “Why?” when he has a new idea or thought.

He can stay out past curfew.

He can spew an immature comment in class.

He can sass back the teacher.

And nobody says a word.

He’s not expected to keep up his appearance.

He can say whatever he wants without much interference.

He’s allowed to make a mess.

And nobody says a word.

Actually, they say four.  

“Boys will be boys.”

But to me, this just sounds like noise

because girls are not excused from their mistakes.

They pay their dues and must fix what they break.

Why has society ingrained in my parents minds

that I need to be home on time?

That if I’m not in bed by 11,

it is in their heads

that I must be in trouble

while the guys I know live in this a perfect bubble:

shielded from the dangers of the night,

able to avoid a fight when they come home,

able to be on their own,

able to have an access to a special kind of freedom,

that girls will never know.

Why is it that society allows boys to make insensitive jokes

and guarantee them that they will still get a laugh?

Why is it that if a girl made the very same joke

there would be no hope of even a smile.

After a while it becomes tiring:

The choir of claims that a girl is seeking attention

Like a crying child,

that a boy can be funny but a girl is trying too hard

or a boy can be assertive

but a girl is just a bitch.

Why is that when a teenage girl wears sweatpants and sweatshirts to school

for her it must be a “lazy day”

when crazy enough their male classmates are wearing the exact same thing on a daily basis.

And why is it that when her faces are a blank canvas and bare,

Boys people think that it’s okay to stare and judge my her mascara-less eyes?

But surprise! If she is wearing makeup, it has to be the right amount

because girls might try to surmount the tower of expectations

only to cower and fail no matter what they do,

what they say,

what they wear.

And why is it that even though the year is 2017,

girls are still expected to be the only ones to cook and to clean.

If a boy can’t do laundry or is unorganized,

There’s no surprise.

They can roll idly by like a ball

while their moms just do it all

But girls will always take that fall.

Because if I’m a girl and I can’t even clean my room

How can I ever expect to find a groom?

Maybe girls cause this problem, though.

I once read that “Mothers love their sons, but raise their daughters.”

If we started disciplining the boys

We could all rejoice and this problem would vanish

Like a star falling into the void  

Maybe one day nobody will say “boys will be boys.”

Maybe one day that saying will just be background noise.

Maybe we can realize that “humans will be humans”

And in this life, we all make mistakes

But from those mistakes we can learn and we can grow

And you know, maybe one day this separation between

What boys can do

and what girls can say

will all be away.

Sincerely,

Your daughter