wHy HaS cuLTuRE tAuGHt mE?
(Alternating line co-write with Courtnie "Gork" Burns)
Why has culture taught me? ...
That I am weak, inferior, incapable or less capable than a pronoun;
I am not a subject here to experience, but an object to be experienced;
That showing society my private parts will determine my path or the doors open to me;
That privilege is for those who conform to the roles given them;
I am the color you assign me; that I will fit in better if I just accept cultural norms which technology, science, and reason tell me are no longer true or even necessary;
I am inherently evil and deficient, which is why I must submit to higher authority or else be punished; thinking for myself is dangerous and inappropriate;
That beauty is a product or industry, and that I am ugly if I do not also play along;
I am not good enough as is, so I need constant validation from others
whether in person or via social media;
Being cat-called while walking down the street is offensive,
but getting free stuff for looking good is a blessing;
That I can only love whomever someone else decides is appropriate for me to love;
That the decisions I make about what to wear or when to walk around
are directly responsible for others deciding to violate me;
That it is not ladylike for me to do ... anything! -
or that my power lies in my ability to manipulate you, sexually;
I am here to look cute in the passenger's seat while the driver makes all the decisions;
I have the rights to cook, clean, spread my legs, as long as I keep my mouth shut;
That finding a mate is more important than finding myself; or that,
As a woman, I have to agree with any of this.