Stripped

make no mistake
you should celebrate your skin
I think it's a good thing
this is what a lot of feminism is about
giving women the option
to let their skin out
and it's good
and it's fine
and I love you for it
because your expression frees me
undoes some of the shackles
addressing some of the pain
that feminism tackles
but I'm not like you
my stretch marks won't see the light of day
my skin won't be sky clad
I live behind sunblock and cotton
and you must know, this isn't bad
this is as good for me
as your exposure is for you
my body fills a different space
i'm politicized differently
my body isn't automatic
it's a crime scene
where my fat is criminal
my broken is disgraceful
my sick is invisible
my trans is indecipherable
so I cover up
often more than you expect
I'm not going to equate my struggles
to the politicized bodies of veiled women
their problems extend far past my understanding
and my white privilege makes me oblivious
to some of their needs and struggles
but you have to stand with them
as you have to stand with me
because
stripped is your song
and covered is my song
and sure
by all means
go ahead
show your breasts
show your genitals
rail against the patriarchal machine
your ways are good for kicking up steam
and making wannabe patriarchs scream
how dare you indeed?
and good for you
I get it
make no mistake
bend or break
I'm in it for your sake
but I walk with you clothed
and this is the way I have to be
because my body is politicized differently

-o0o-

I was thinking of Femen's method of protest and how problematic and how racist they can be. I was Googling a lot of different ways nudity has been used by women when I saw this picture:

Dear White Feminists. Don't do this. Coaxing a person out of clothes is as violent as coaxing a woman into clothes.