It’s not all men
But every single woman
They say one bad apple
Can’t ruin a tree
As the roots lay rotting
Caged yet free
Keys between our knuckles
Pepper spray in our bags
‘Don’t smile at him!,
He’ll think you’re easy,’
True, yet sad.
A look at your legs,
A stare on the bus
A hand too close to your shoulder
Entitlement
A must
Our bodies aren’t ours
An object of voyeuristic pleasure
From which they gather great amusement
As our agency and self-respect
Withers
We’re told to ignore them
To not care
To go about with our lives
Even though no one stopped him
Then and there
It’s not all men
But every single woman
Has been paralyzed with fear
At the intentions in their eyes
Standing far too near
Putting coats over our dresses
Forcing the tears inside our eyes
Because if it’s not all men,
Then why does going outside
Feel like a fight to survive?
Disha Raju
Disha is a student who has a passion for writing and sharing her thoughts with the world. What sets her apart as a black sheep is her outspokenness. She has frequently been advised to occupy less space, both as a woman and as a human being. However, she firmly believes that true progress cannot be achieved by waiting for others to assign her a place. She understands that making a difference entails carving her own path and smoothing the road to equality for others.
