Saturday, October 20, 2018

OctPoWriMo Day 19: Dear Men Who Keep Asking Women 'What Do You Want' And Never Listen To The Answers

I don't apologize for being caustic or blistering today. I've had enough gas-lighting, emotional/verbal abuse, condescension, and mansplaining in my life to know how destructive it is, and that many men seem to keep asking, but never listen to the answers. So. Here it is. Blunt, no mincing of words.

DAY 19: DEAR MEN WHO KEEP ASKING WOMEN ‘WHAT DO YOU WANT’ AND NEVER LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS

What do you want
       you to stop
       trapping my body with:
       yours
       your eyes
       your hands
       your words
       your smug assumptions
       and expectations
       on *[how I should behave]
       [how I should conduct myself]
       [what career is fit for me]
       [how my body should be regulated]

So what do you want
       you to stop
       treating me as territory
       to be *[conquered]
       [staked out]
       [possessed]
       [tamed]
       [shamed]
       [broken]
       [put into proper place]
       (*replace with [word] as necessary)

       to have flags sunk into me
       flying labels you’ve imposed
       incompetent weak slut bitch ugly
       because you are Omnipotent Man
       who surely must know my body and needs
       better than myself who has lived in it
       since birth
     
No really what do you want
       You
       To
       Fuck
       Off
       And
       Police
       Your
       Own
       Behaviour
       
       NOT
       MINE

7 comments:

Ron Potter said...

Yes, I respect the pov. It’s powerful and awakens the reader to themselves.

ms_lili said...

AMEN Shuku! Anywhere anytime anyhow anywhen forever and forever more. It's about respect and trust. Without those 2 ingredients, nah.

Unknown said...

Wow. Could feel this one in my bones.

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...

Yes, yes, yes, yes, a million times YES!
#metoo

Shuku said...

Ron: Thank you for being respectful of the POV! It is really, really highly appreciated. I know a lot of people who wouldn't be half so open-minded.

Jade: YES ABSOLUTELY. Respect and trust!

Barbara: Thank you Barbara - it's been brewing a while, it just took its time coming out. Thank you for reading it!

Cara: Huge huge hugs #metoo The more we talk about it, the better it is for everyone to see just how widespread the problem is.

paeansunplugged said...

YES! And always

Shuku said...

Thank you!