YOUR TIME IS NOW!!!

Back in high school,

whenever my girlfriends and I would attempt to express our feelings,

we immediately get labeled as “a bunch of angry girls”.

We are not angry, we would say.

Now that’s the biggest lie we’ve ever told because

We were and we still are angry.

You tell us our time is now,

Yet young, innocent girls still battle with gender-stereotypes.

You tell us our time is now,

Yet society still dictates how we should live.

You tell us our time is now,

Yet we still undergo endless, senseless diets just to look a certain way.

You tell us our time is now,

Yet we’re still termed as dramatic whenever we experience painful menstrual cramps.

You tell us our time is now, 

Yet we’re asked to be seen and not heard

You tell us our time is now,

Yet we’re still asked to “SUTURAL” the uncles that sexually assaulted us.

With the excuse of setting us on the right path,

Society robs us off our freedom, rights, and peace of mind.

Making us live a beautiful lie full of perfection,

But wait,

That’s how you know it wouldn’t last because no one,

I repeat, no one, is perfect.

You tell us our time is now,

Yet our opinions in family meetings are still shoved aside and considered irrelevant,

Just like those of our mothers’ and aunts’.

You tell us our time is now,

Yet we’re still treated as

“Little miss can only engage in discussions regarding food and house chores”.

You tell us our time is now,

Yet the head boy is given more significance than the head girl.

You tell us our time is now,

Yet we can’t feel safe in our own space,

Wait, do we even have a space?

You tell us our time is now,

Yet here we are suffering long-term psychological consequences of FGM.

Our so-called civilized, modern society

Claims to support gender-equality and what it entails.

So, we ask…

Why let us set boundaries when you won’t respect them?

Why imply that you have given us rights,

if we must speak and act according to what you think is right?

And what’s worse is,

You make our lives so sad, miserable, and despairing.

And still ask us to cover it up with a smile,

Which we still do because that’s how it is right?

You command, we obey.

So, girls, I am sure you are all as tired as I am.

Tired of sitting in the corners,hiding in the shadows, Constantly waiting for them to tell us our time is now when they barely mean it. In all honesty they don’t! 

Therefore, it is up to us to let everyone else know that  Our time is now, let us claim our rights to ensure a brighter future.