Hair

I’ll do up my hair really nice

With tear-stained cheeks

But no one likes you when you’re sad

You’ve gotta be a pretty girl

So I’ll wash them away

To make room for my mask

In the hopes I can be beautiful enough

Pluck, shave, moisturize

Highlight, contour, file

Paint, and fill in

“Make yourself appealing to others

Or we’ll kill you inside out.”

They don’t say it but they force it

“What do you mean you don’t want to?

This is what girls are made for!”

I’m only worth it

When I stand in the correct height of high heels

That match my flowered dress

Not too modest

“Show some skin!”

Not too revealing

“Cover up, skank!”

I can’t win

I’m only as good as what I’m told I am

The more lumps I have,

The more ridicule they chuck at me

And the thinner I am

“Nothing but skin and bones,

men like curves!”

It will never be good enough

“Do not speak unless spoken to

And you better say the right damn thing

You will not challenge us or our ideas

You will be "ladylike"

Because it doesn’t threaten us

You will not reject anyone who wants you or complain

And you’ll accept it with a smile

You are nothing more than a pretty toy.”

How am I expected to deal with this?

Men howling at me as I walk down the street

Threats to my life me when I don’t fit in

I’m just trying to survive like them

So I’ll hide behind my styled hair

And I’ll try my hardest not to cry

Because I’d never dare ruin the make-up

That makes me worthy of some love