Message to Men from any Female over the Age of 13

I will leave my house; I will walk

in your streets

to meet friends, to work, or just because

like every human being,

sometimes I need to be out

by myself, and alone in my own head

my own space, my own thoughts.

If you see me, just leave me alone.

My jeans may make you note

that I have an a*s; my jacket may

make it apparent that I have breasts.

I never asked you to comment

on either.

 

I am not a cow or goat or vendor of flesh.

I am not a German Shepherd. I do not come

if you whistle at me.

I am not selling milk or meat

on your sidewalks and no I do not want

to go to your house, or get in your truck.

Even if you cannot control yourself;

if something about my face

or hair or the way I simply place

one foot in front of the other,

trying to get to where I am going

with minimal harassment-

even if something about me pleases you

and gives you an erection

in front of your friends,

let’s get this straight:

 

I owe you Nothing.

I am not yours to claim, to chase, to convince.

My body is mine, not yours.

My thoughts are mine, not yours.

My time and attention are mine, not yours.

My decision to be scared of you or not, is mine.

My decision to be courteous or not, is also mine.

I owe you nothing: not a smile. not tight pants

and makeup, not eye contact, not a word

of recognition. Not my spare change

or a reaction, or anything I am carrying.

I do not have to be cute or beautiful

or even in a damned good mood.

I do not owe you for the right

to exist in your world; I owe no tariff,

no emotional tax; no courtesy fees

for being on the same streets

at the same time, as you.

Author's Note

images from Raleigh awareness campaign and Cornell statstics

Reviews

[Mercy B]

I feel that the words written here can resound with just about anyone. I love the courage you had to put them out there for everyone to see and I could not agree more with them. Being a female, I understand that sometimes the things men and even some women do are too much and not right. Thank you for writing this. It was beautifully written and I can tell it is something you feel strongly about.

[emmajoy]

' .. I owe you Nothing. - I am not yours to claim, to chase, to convince. - My body is mine, not yours.
My thoughts are mine, not yours. - My time and attention are mine, not yours.
My decision to be scared of you or not, is mine. - My decision to be courteous or not, is also mine.
I owe you nothing: not a smile. not tight pants - and makeup, not eye contact, not a word
of recognition '

You've always written in a stand-be counted manner, never afraid to air your views about life's bewildering wretchedness. This finely worded post is no exception. It reaches out to all Women, certainly in many countries where they're still treated as objects, But your words apply to all women who feel their rights are still less than men's. Clearly, men are one gender, woman are another - and , let's be candid: there are few physical differences between us! However, many of the so-called stronger sex still think we should fit in with their rules which, considering the state of the Man-dominated world, aint that wonderful! :) Thank you yet again R., I so admire your writing. x