This is not another #MeToo post. But, it is about the systematic suppression of women and putting them in their place when they cross the line.
So this was triggered by a Facebook post I read this evening about a girl who took an auto to work. The driver was reckless, refused to get change when neither of them had any, then slapped her twice because she got angry and raised her voice at him. She was left confused and scared. Though she has the auto number, she does not want to file a police complaint, because she is worried as the man knows her home as well as her office now. This reminded me of an incident I went through more than a decade back. It was my first job and the auto driver decided he would for some reason not drop me at my home, but a block before. What ensued was an argument and I walked back down the road to my home in the dark. Some guy on a bike decided to butt slap me and ride off. I am still fuming.
No place for angry young women
Don’t ever raise your voice
Don’t have an opinion
You are a woman
It will take me just a minute to put you in your place
A tight slap to your face
Another if you don’t shut up
You are a woman
You are like an eggshell
Fragile, in need of protection
Don’t screw with me
Or I will show you my might
Crush you between my palms
That will set you right
That will teach you a lesson
Strike fear in the heart of women
You or she won’t dare ever again
To talk too much
Don’t look me in the eye
Bow your head
I can do what I want
You are a woman
No rights to raise your voice
Else you shall pay the price
You will be the one doing the walk of shame
You will be the one covering your face
You are the woman
Fold your anger like origami paper
and stuff it down your throat
Swallow it whole
Remember, you are a woman
else I will have to remind you.
So sad to read this and hear of these experiences that both you and your Facebook friend have suffered at the hands of these awful men. I can’t believe that there are people that would treat women like that in the world, it just isn’t right or fair at all. They deserve punishment and I only hope that they get it soon one day. At least you have written a powerful poem on the back of your experiences to highlight the plight of other women. These type of men need to read your piece and engage with the truth, they should be ashamed of themselves and look to rectify their behaviour. Well done for putting it into words that sincerely speak to us all, female and male.
Thank you for the empathy. I hope more people get it.
It was shocking and filled me with rage reading about Sandhya’s experience.. it sometimes feel it’s all about might is right. I wish we somehow had the superpowers to slap the back then n there. But not act8mg upon this and letting him get away is not right either. A powerful piece NAmy
I have for a long time thought we need to get some training to react in such situations. We haven’t really got into physical fights, except probably with our siblings(maybe). So, it is not really in our muscle memory. Like you said, wish we could just slap back, just as hard and make them back away. Is might the only right?
It saddens me that anyone should have to put up with that.
Yes me too.
Both those experiences are so frustrating. I love your poem, it speaks to it all. ❤
So true and it is so sad that it is. It is why we need to keep teaching our sons and daughters through our own life’s example what is acceptable and what is unacceptable behavior. We very sadly cannot count on the leaders at the helm to enforce laws that are already on the books 🙁
This is a great piece! And so true.