Little girls hide beneath their beds
More afraid of the demons beyond the door, than the ones within their heads
These demons—they've faces and names
They're the ones they loved; life plays cruel games
It wasn't enough to be hurt, or enough to be hated
They had to be raped and constantly degraded
What can this lead to, what does this teach?
Teaches these children that happiness is out of their reach
It pushes them to grow into women too fast
Pushes them into a reprehensible cast
It isn't their fault, but most don't believe it
"What if I'd been better, if even a little bit?"
She grows up the victim, to crimes so sadistic
She's never a person, merely a faceless statistic
"Did you know," they say
"A victim's 4 times more likely to commit suicide today?"
"It's sad," they continue, "don't you think?"
"The younger the victim, the less likely they'll speak."
"Too bad," they bemoan, "their lives seem destroyed"
"What with anxiety and depression, they're bound to be paranoid"
"Well, why would rapists do this," they furiously ask
Not understanding that sex is only a mask
Rapists crave the control; they crave the conquest
They want a confirmation of weakness; they don't want a contest
She has no identity, and she has no voice
Society pretends that she made that choice
Statistics reveal a reluctance to report
Maybe because it'll be a nightmare in court
Because they'll drag her in, ask about her past
The charges won't stick, they never seem to last
The man will go free, and he'll choose another victim
Maybe the next charge against him will alter the dictum
She has to find meaning, in a world that seems hopeless
Has to find solace, when inside she is a mess
What can she do, in a society that breeds rape culture?
One where they slut shame, victim blame and act downright vulgar
There are hotlines and therapy, ways to get through
The issue is, though, that people don't know what to do
First, get to safety, wherever that may be
Breathe—you need to know that you're now free
Don't shower; don't get rid of the evidence
The next step should be to shed your reticence
Set up a rape kit and collect all your weapons
Against the sick motherfucker who 'taught you a lesson'
Report it; that's important, don't let this consume you
We can fight this, we can fight him, and then you can bid this adieu
KYM;
YOU ARE READING
Rape Culture: TO-DO
Thơ caI wrote a poem for a class about rape culture that details how it starts, stats, what to do if you've been the victim and so on. It's hard to get through but I think it is some of my best work.
