Photograph by Michael Howarth (2022).


I am a woman
— an entity —
preyed
             upon
by  jurisdiction  
             over me

A woman:
shackled in chains,
norms, standards and culture
dictated to me
that I do not
dare disobey.

I'm ‘woman’
sometimes called
the ‘second’
            biologically
‘inferior
            other’
fated
to serve men,
raise their children

Woman,
Laugh too loud,
vulgar
Speak too little,
naive
Outspoken,
 too ‘feminist,’
as if that's worse than being a ‘terrorist.’

I am a woman!
but not ‘that woman’
who labels other women
      sluts
          says other women
trying too hard,
defaming her others
by
considering herself better.

I am just one woman…
imprisoned
                   like any other,
raised
by mums and grandmums
                    who worship men.

Yes,
I’m a woman.
‘Privileged’ that
she wasn't molested
                  as a child
or sold in brothels

but still not ‘privileged.’
                               Enough.

I am a woman;
trying to be another woman’s friend,
to care, empower and emancipate,
so that I can proudly say:
I am this woman.