Tuesday, March 14, 2017

The March of the Nots

Woman
historically
have always been defined 
by what she is not.

a woman is *not* a man
but she is a wo-man

a woman is *not* a black person
but she "may" be black woman

a woman is *not* a jewish person
but she "may" be a jewish woman

a woman is *not* lesbian person
but she "may" be a lesbian woman

a woman is *not* transgender
but she "may" be a transgender woman

a woman is *not* asexual
but she "may" be an asexual woman

a woman is *not* nonbinary
but she "may" be a nonbinary woman

add womxn to the mix
experiencing multiple intersections
of identity and marginalizations
and alt-right man-children's brains break.

womanhood is always
filled to the brim with obstacles
the attainment of womanhood
has never been automatic
unless you're profoundly
white
cisgender
heterosexual
rich
healthy
able-bodied
and neurotypical

if a womxn tells you who she is
and the world rushes in
to tell her what she's not
she's probably exactly
who she says she is.

the second she claims
her femininity as empowering
her identity as explicit
her marginalisation as history
the world rushes in 
to tell her to stop being divisive.

the second she speaks
of the way she's been marginalised
the world rushes in
to tell her that "We don't need labels!"

the second she speaks
the world is back
telling her what she's not.

-o0o-

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