A Memorandum to Men

by ashlynn lim, age 14, singapore

 

dear men,

 

cease the rhetoric that a woman is crazy

nothing is manly about confidence

nothing is manly about competence

discrediting her reputation

smearing it with retaliation

diminishing, belittling, dismissing

by mere reason of a dress

when the only distinction

is whether you check M or F

 

as a result of the subconscious opposite

hypotheses that are little more than excuses

are discriminately, prejudicially generated

the balance of society slanted

 

ruminate on the privilege you hold

as CEOs, as role models, as heroes

while she is shrunk, slackened to a zero

its not about perfection its about progression

sympathy is soothing but it does not beat action

What are you looking for?