They Say

My history teacher once told me

That misogyny is the fear of women

Not hatred

It is fear that breeds bigotry

Because we fear the unknown

Not hatred

And it is hard to see that we are all just pieces

From the same whole

And when I was little

They would always say

You can do anything you put your mind to

You can be anything you want

Even though I’m a girl

And I can go to school

And have the right to vote

I can be a lawyer or a doctor

And still be a mom

Unlike so many woman before

And so many around the world

But still they say

Cross your legs

Lower your voice

Cover up

Like my body is something foul

Yet they plaster it on billboards

And sell it like meat

He said be careful she’s a feminist

The word creates fear

But as long as my feeling are dismissed

As PMS

And my appearance more important than my thoughts

The title will remain

But perhaps I should be called

Equalist or beingist or love

 Because I don’t want equality for women

But equality for all

And as long as my brother is called a pussy

Because he doesn’t play any sports

And my dad is always angry

Because men aren’t allowed to cry

The problem is not for women

The problem is for all

And who are they?

The ones who tell us who we are?

The media, the patriarchy, God?

No, it’s an illusion

A thought floating in the clouds

So it can be hard to remember

We are not black or white, gay or straight

Man or woman

We are human