The Female Curse

I want to wear crop tops
in public without being called provocative names
or do my makeup
without the assumption that I desire the male gaze

I want to walk down the avenue
at night without the shield of a four-legged companion
or attend a party
without the fear of getting roofied

I want to feel equal to the men
not inferior
nor superior
but equal

it is not one person’s fault that this is our society
but it is our society’s fault that we allow this to continue

the oppressed survive together
by giving a stranger the hair tie off your wrist
by going to the restroom in groups
by listening to taylor swift
by doing each other’s eyeshadow
by debriefing after a night out

maybe this will change one day
but for now, the shoulder of another woman is enough.