I should be flattered when I'm hit on

by a group of older men

more than twice, thrice my age

as if I should feel lucky that me, a young girl

a teenager

is being objectified by someone old enough to be my father 

I am tired of hearing, "well what else did you expect?" 

in response to me taking a walk by myself 

and being grabbed, shouted and whistled at 

as if I'm insane for thinking I should be able 

to go for a daytime stroll alone

without fearing for my life 

and then those same people turn their heads and say 

that inequality doesn't exist

that it's all in my head 

yet they so blatantly admit 

that the world is unsafe for me

just because I'm a girl

Well, let me tell you something.

I refuse to dismiss

your flawed perception of my life 

and the billions of other women

who struggle every day

I refuse to let you belittle

the movements that brought me my rights

the ones that aim to see me as equal to you 

I refuse to be flattered 

by your disrespect 

I refuse to allow this world 

to treat me as prey

And I refuse to follow, rather than lead.

I am not 

my curves, my skin, my hair or my nails 

I am not a princess, or a porcelain doll

I will not shatter if you drop me. 

I will get up and dust myself off.

I do not deserve respect because I am a fragile, weaker being

I demand it, because I am human.

I am 

my strength, my perseverance, my unbreakable spirit of joy

I am a sword, a hammer, a spear.

I am everything you think I am not;

I am a woman.

(Submitted by Olivia Visser)