Freshman year of high school, some loser grabbed my ass.

Why was I trained to take that as a compliment?

Why is Darren Wilson a household name,

But Jaris Hayden isn’t?

You know, the Ferguson corrections officer who illegally held a pregnant woman in his custody,

raping her relentlessly?

 

Why do people still ask why we need feminism?

 

Because when the public cares more about Chris Brown’s new album

than Rihanna’s recovery,

And in order to get an abortion a woman must battle past an army of male politicians,

And every night I carry my car keys in between my fingers just in case,

And daughters are sent off to college with pepper spray

because certain frat boys think no means yes,

And a twelve year old’s bra strap makes the principal “uncomfortable,”

And a woman’s outfit says more to a man than her words do,

And a high school football player can record a rape without repercussion,

And an NFL star can rape a woman in a bar bathroom then turn it around on her,

There is no change.

 

“She was asking for it,” they’ll say.

“She shouldn’t have had that fourth beer.”

When did she accuse him?

Why didn’t she tell anyone?

What was she wearing?

Where was she going?

Who was she with?

 

A five year old girl was raped by a teenager in Montana.

The assailant was served with a mighty two years...

Of community service.

When asked why the rapist wasn’t serving time,

the prosecutor had a chilling response:

“Boys will be boys.”

 

That’s why we need feminism.

Because boys will be boys.

So women will have to be women.