We Are Queens

I'm dedicating my 100th story on Vocal to celebrate and honor not only Women's History Month and all the amazing women that have fought for a woman's place in this world, but ALL women everywhere. You are seen. You are heard. You are worthwhile. You are equal. You are enough.

~

What defines a woman?

What does it mean to have two X chromosomes,

breasts and the internal organs to bear children?

Is that all we are? Our parts? Our genetic makeup?

History shows, and by history I mean right up

until this moment passing by, that being a woman

means being subjugated. Treated as property.

Told to stay in the home.

Expected to get a job and contribute.

Told how to dress. How not to dress.

How to speak. What level of education we can achieve.

Told we're only worthwhile to be used for sex, for pleasure,

for producing and raising offspring.

Held accountable for others' actions with the inexcusable excuse,

'she was asking for it.'

Forced to suffer alone in silence when those

postpartum blues hit so hard. Isolated in motherhood.

Pitied for not being able to have children.

Judged for not wanting a family.

Shamed for having a pregnancy outside of marriage

when it takes two to tango.

Stoned for adultery.

Sold into marriage. Stolen into bondage.

Told it's not a woman's place–

women shouldn't read, vote, have thoughts, speak up,

wish for more, have equal wages, own land,

manage their own money, keep their own last name,

be granted physical autonomy.

We're revered for our bodies. Hated for our bodies.

Have our beauty defined, our fashion decided.

We're turned against one another for the sake of attention,

to fit in, because of stupid jealousies and insecurities,

self-doubt, the color of our skin, the shape of our bodies,

the look of our hair, our complexion.

We are half the damn population of this world we call home,

and yet, and yet,

and yet. We are not seen as equal.

But we are overcomers.

We rise up with dignity.

It may be in silent solidarity. It may go unnoticeable.

It may be in a blaze of might and glory.

It may be in the middle of the night when we choose

to keep going, to see another dawn.

But no matter what, we are here.

We are amazing.

We are worth more than the world has given us.

More than what we're told we can be.

More than religions and institutions that tell us we're less.

We are deserving of the freedoms that have been taken away.

We are mothers. We are soldiers. We are counselors.

We are princesses, scientists and homemakers,

pilots and teachers, lawmakers, veterinarians,

caregivers, doctors, nurses, secretaries, CEO's,

factory workers, mechanics, cement masons,

fashion models, athletes, authors,

entrepreneurs, and business owners.

We are kind and fierce and brave.

We're dreamers. We're realists. We're protectors.

We're creators.

We get things done even when our souls are tired from

the boxes we find ourselves shoved in.

We deserve to be able to use our voices to speak out

about injustices and wrongs without being told

we're 'too emotional'.

We deserve to say 'no' to unwanted touching,

to use our bodies how we please with no pressure.

'Date rape' shouldn't even be a phrase. No means no!

Our little girls should feel safe from perverted attention.

We should be able to go out alone to shop, to run,

to do whatever without the constant undercurrent

Of being hurt and abused at the backs of our minds

because we're the 'weaker' sex.

We should be free to find love naturally

with a man, with a woman, with both, with none.

We shouldn't be made to feel that we've failed at being

a woman for not marrying, for not having children,

for wanting to have a career,

for wanting to have it all.

Because we are champs at multi-tasking and

we have so much love to give.

We just need a fair chance.

And we shouldn't feel shame in aging,

whether it's graceful or not.

Gray hair, white hair, chin hair, hunched backs,

wrinkled skin...we don't need damn beauty creams.

We need to talk about periods and pap smears,

mammograms and menopause without being

made to feel ashamed of it as if discussing

the realities of being a woman is dirty or unclean.

We deserve to be respected, valued, appreciated.

Viewed as partners in this thing called life.

And we will accept nothing less.

Women of the world–

Lift your heads!

We are queens.

____________________________________________________

Thank you to all the brave women that have been trailblazers and pushed the boundaries of what women can do. Thank you to all the women who know their worth and help lift up others that can't see their own. Thank you to all the women just getting through another day doing the best they can. Thank you.