A Poem

Ladylike

“Be ladylike,” I’m told

Don’t swear or tell off the people who degrade you

Hold your tongue seize your vulgar mouth

Be polite, when you're in someone's way move and say you're sorry

dress appropriately, wear a skirt and a pretty top,

Don’t show too much, but show enough to keep guys interested

“Be ladylike,”

That sexist term used to hold down women who try to stand up

That sexist term used to tell women how they're suppose to act

and because I am a woman, I’m expected to act a certain way

because I’m a woman I can’t say certain words, that men can say, because I’m less

But no I’m not less, we are not less, nor were we ever less

You run around claiming were equal, but then spout out terms like “ladylike”

Claim you're not sexist, but expect us to respect you because you're a man, when you don’t even respect us

newsflash Respect is given before it can be returned

Because I’m a woman I can’t say things like fuck, I can’t raise my middle finger in the air and tell you all to go screw yourselves

I cannot get mad, or angry

Because I’m a woman I should be seen but not heard

Used for pleasure but seen no pleasure in return

Because I’m a woman, I’m expected to be “ladylike”