A Box Of Chocolate

V (Inequalities)

I wrote this on/around the 17 of January. It was the final project in my women in literature task. The task was to "design some sort of ppersonal expression about something that resonated with you." We were to choose from the topics we'd covered that year. I chose inequalities.

Inequalities (with a few lines contributed by a friend)

I

She's a "ho", he's a "playah",

She's a "bitch", he's "just the boss",

She shows her body and is labeled promiscuous,

He shows his and is simply dismissed.

Her feet are bound while his roam free,

She tends the children while she makes the money.

He's educated in knowledge,

While she in the ways of the house,

He's the dominant lion,

And she the meek little mouse.

She bears the child,

But he decides if it's carried to term,

She speaks her mind,

But only he is heard.

And yes, things have changed,

As years have gone by.

We give the illusion of having reached soaring heights,

When we're just feet above the ground.

II

A guy cannot be raped,

But if she is, some say it's her fault.

And a guy cannot be abused,

But a woman can, they're weak and small.

For the same work,

She is paid less,

Regardless of which sex works best.

And she's a saint until it's broken,

While he's encouraged to keep on poking.

She's told that her virginity is precious,

While he's allowed to act reckless.

And in some religions she's still taught that she's unclean,

While his anatomy is deemed pristine.

And maybe now, slowly, views are starting to change,

But old habits die hard,

To quote some long dead sage.

III

When she criesit's not suspicious,

If he cries he turns it fictitious.

And a woman is not what one aims to be,

For in Hinduism, it's seen as penalty.

He can't possibly raise a child,

And she's the stereotypical teacher.

He's chosen for his mind,

While she for her features.

The media teaches him that he can't be beat by a girl,

While telling her that thinness and outter beauty is a main goal for her world.

Double standards, stereotypes,

And making others feel inferior,

We know, deep down,that it's not right.

But he starts to believe it,

And he doesn't tell him otherwise.

There are advantages, you see,to playing the role of brainless beauty.

And for him, he feels special,

Like he's needed.

And eventually, they both start to believe it.

Yes, times are changing,

And yes, I know it's hard,

For both sides to let go of what they've been taught for so long.

And maybe all I've stated is not longer a widespread truth,

But it's still believed by many who refuse to bow to proof.