Women should smile more...

“Why don’t you smile more,”

said a full grown man,

to an adolescent girl.

“You have such a pretty face,

don’t let your assets go to waste.”

What about the brain she has inside,

is that something she should hide,

He didn’t ask that of her brother;

he probably would have asked her mother.

“Why don’t you smile more?”

Said the business man to the clerk.

Maybe it’s all the entitled jerks,

that think she should smile, and make their days,

and be pleasant, cheerful and take their cares away...

She’s a woman, working for him,

she doesn’t deserve her own thoughts or opinions.

Her male coworker always wears a frown,

but his title and wage says he’s the best one around.

“Why don’t you smile more?”

Said the patient to the nurse.

Because while she’s busy trying to fill her purse:

she gets hit on, degraded,

and patronized by all,

by patients and doctors that view her as small.

“She’s not a doctor,

she’s a she...

does she know what she’s doing?

Is this where she should be?”

In a field dominated by womxn,

with education, smarts and talent,

she still can’t win.

“Why don’t you smile more?”

Said the man to the student.

Because she’s afraid;

while one in four coeds,

(I repeat, one in four coeds)

will be a victim of rape,

and you could catch that frat boy,

red-handed-on-tape...

Don’t worry guys,

It’s not his fault,

“What was she wearing?”

“Why didn’t she forced him to halt?”

“Why would she trust a man to walk her home?”

“What was she doing out, so late, alone?”

Don’t worry men, he’ll get three months in jail...

Wouldn’t want to ruin his reputation with prestigious schools like Yale.

“Why don’t you smile more,”

Said the man to a random womxn;

because it’s a constant chore...

She must be: perfect, respectful, graceful and lean, good at washing and cleaning she’s like a machine, wonderful with children, patient and not mean.

If she’s not,

what value does she bring to this total stranger?

If she answers him crossly, her life is the one in danger.

She’s demanded to be the answer to a Mary Poppins want ad;

she’s just hysterical if she reacts or gets mad.

“Why don’t you smile more?”

Said the man to his “friend;”

because you’ll never truly understand,

the differences between you and me:

our struggles, oppression and pay inequalities.

You will look the other way when a partner lays his hands.

You have catcalled teenagers because it helps you feel like “the man,”

You will discredit me and call me names when I stand;

as I make waves in your “polite”patriarchal land.

Stop.

No one wants you to grab them by their pussies.

I have way too much respect for my body and me.

I don’t need help deciding what happens to my body;

I can go to work and still be a great mommy.

I demand equal pay for equal jobs.

I’m not being too emotional when I sob.

I don’t need to smile or “take it on the chin,”

I don’t need to be your perfect ten...

I don’t need to smile,

because I’m a proud womxn.

If you’re still asking womxn why they don’t smile,

try walking around in heels for a while.