By Venesha Winter
This piece contains references to misogyny and allusions to abuse
It was only 100 years ago
There were not many female CEOs
Women were pink; men were blue
But this world is now brand new
I do not need to wear floral earrings
or have an expensive, gold, diamond ring
I don’t need to be a wife
or have a man who provides
I do not have to shave my body hair
Between men and women, things are fairer
I can wear a suit and tie
and get in a car and drive
I can study at a tertiary school
Slut-shaming is now considered uncool
I can be a manager
who wears a dark blue blazer
Unfortunately, there’s still work to do
For centuries, it has been overdue
Some men think we’re mannequins
with no thoughts and emotions
This happened to me in the late summer
I got involved with a bald bus driver
It all started with a stare
He drove off to God knows where
Then, in the cold winter month of July,
he showed up at the bus stop; I was shy
Friends told me to run away,
but I decided to stay
Fast forward to when we had our first date
His true motivation was to get laid
He got a woman pregnant
She was a single parent
I still think about the woman’s trauma
It would have been emotional torture
His actions were cold like frost
Didn’t want to pay the cost
Let’s fight against objectification
and encourage women’s liberation
through poetry and protests
Let’s put the male gaze to rest
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Header image: Walk for Respect 2024 by Venesha Winter