Why are they so low on the pay scale?

Why are they banned from driving in different countries?

Why are they expected to stay at home while the men do the real work?

Why are they raped so frequently just because they can be?

The clothes we wear define our consent

Yet the women that wear the clothes of modesty still don’t have the freedom to say no

The word no is foreign to them as they hold her down with intent

On the good days she’ll avoid death and be free to go

“Boys are boys” said the man through laughter

“It’s because he likes you” said the mom as she iced her daughter’s bruise

“If he likes me, why’d he hurt me?” asked the daughter the morning after

The mom made an excuse but it was of no use

“It’s out of love” sighed the all grown up daughter as she iced her black eye

Her husband held no mercy during the beating and he left her to cry

She sighed as she was left alone

She never made eye contact because she’s afraid of the tears

“Show no weakness” she recited as she held her cheekbone

She could show no emotion to her ignorant peers

While we like to believe the US has the worst of it boy, are we wrong

We say “women have the right to vote” but, have you visited Vatican City?

It wasn’t until 2014 that the law that forced rapists to marry their underage victims was repealed in Morocco

Can you leave your house without your husband’s permission? Saudi Arabian women can’t

Do you have a guardian, your husband, that chooses exactly what your every move is?

And when he’s gone it’s your son, or your dad, or your brother

Again, Saudi Arabian women do.

You’re 18 now but, were you forced into marriage before the age of 15?

What defines human rights?

Because it’s certainly not that

This is not a story from the playwrights

This is still where the developing world sits at

This fight is most necessary out there but we still have to be aware of what happens here

Tell me why does my mom makes 15% less than a man in the same position

Tell me why do I walk the street and get catcalled and treated like I’m a piece of meat

Tell me why am I told to always carry pepper spray and why I check my backseat before I ever drive away

Tell  me why am I told a joke in which I’m told to go home and make him a sandwich

Tell me why am I called bossy when I have a task to get complete

But he’s called assertive and confident and he is never to be beat

Can I not set my drink down for a minute?

I’m afraid a drug could get in it

Will my life be taken if I take a sip?

Will my family cry when they hear the body bag zip?

I say “me too” and you seem to think I’m in a zoo

We have story after story but you can’t listen because it’s too gory

We have formed a sisterhood while you have just stood

You need to understand that we fight for the right to unite with you

We do not fight for the right to incite a war with you

This piece was not made to accuse or abuse

This was made to bring light to a situation we often turn our back to

We hear the screams and we turn up the music

We see the red flags and we shield our eyes

We see the bruise and we cover it with makeup

We need to stand together, never to back down

We must find our cause and fight for our rights

Get up again despite the knockdown

Keep going until the fire truly ignites

People of quality don’t fear equality

You think it’s a power struggle and we want more

The truth is we just want the same

You suppress and suppress but we’re making more progress

I am more than the number on my clothes or the number on the scale

I am more than my family name

I am more than my social class

I am more than the hemline on my skirt

I don’t know about you but, my sisters and I aren’t stopping anytime soon