Spoken Poetry

Don't Touch My Body

How many times have you felt uncomfortable by inappropriate jokes, sexually harassed, groped in the streets,
Made to feel like a sex object, belittled, shamed, removed of all dignity.
Unfortunately for many, this is everyday reality,
This sort of behaviour happens all too often, and we're all aware of it happening
yet choose to ignore it blindly,
What does that say about our society?
How many times have you told yourself 'it's fine', 'nothing's going to change', "I'm used to it".
and what kind of effect does that kind of attitude have on our future kids.
I know it's hard but it's so important for us to speak out and admit,
that there is something really wrong here and that sexual assault exists.

How dare you touch me inappropriately,
looking me up and down like I'm some piece of meat,
Invading my personal space, putting your unwanted hands on my body.
not even processing the thought that hey maybe, just maybe, that might not be okay with me,
See I'll never understand how some people feel the need to touch everything they see?
It's insane to me.
You're a grown person, how do you fail to understand that my body is not public property?
I'm not here for your pleasure,
You don't get to do with me as you please,
Even if I'm walking around stark naked, drunk out of my mind,
You still don't get to touch me.

And the sad fact is that this type of behaviour,
happens regularly,
so much so that most people become desensitised to it,
It happens so often that it's become an accepted part of reality.
You finally build the courage to report the incident, only to see
That the people in power don't even take it seriously
cos apparently,
sexual assault isn't seen as much of a priority.
Are you actually kidding me?

And if that wasn't bad enough,
then comes the victim shaming
Well it wasn't really my fault, did you see what she was wearing?
She had skin showing and a tight skirt on
let's be real here, who could really blame him?
And then the shame sinks in.

You start to cover up, go quiet,
Don't bring attention to yourself cos you don't wan't to encourage it.
Blaming yourself thinking maybe it was my fault,
maybe I do draw attention to myself,
Overthink it so much, till the self hate hits.

Consent is not based on how someone is dressed,
and no, a maybe does not equal a yes.
this is basic common sense.
But I guess with the the way society is going, people tend to expect less.
which is why it's so hard for so many people's to confess
that they're a victim of assault.
society shames them to the point where they start to believe, maybe it is there fault.
which is terrifying,
because we're not talking about the actions of children here, we're talking about grown adults.

All I'm asking for is respect and privacy,
and not to be cat called and groped when I walk down the street,
to feel safe and in control of my own body,
and not have to put up with hatred and misogyny,
I just want to be treated like an actual human being,
Is that really too much to ask in 2017?

I shouldn't have to go to work and feel insecure and ashamed,
made to feel like how I dressed was the reason to blame.
that's not okay,
If we're truly going to bring an end to this then the only effective solution is to educate,
Whether that be in schools, or at home,
teach your kids the correct way to behave
and make them understand that this type of behaviour, touching people without consent, is far from okay.
It's only with discipline and education will we see these social attitudes change
and hopefully eradicate.

Throughout time objectification of our bodies has been normalised
And it's time people realise that we are human beings with thoughts and rights,
We will not put up with this anymore, I will fight to take back what is rightfully mine.
go out there and be bold, make noise, take up space, we will no longer hide,
we will take control of our bodies and we'll own it with pride.
we will not be shamed or belittled anymore, not now, not tomorrow or any other time.

///Credits///