Is it because I am a girl

To throw around as your plaything.

Or a stick that you can bend

To your will.

Why do I have to

I am no slave

I am a being too.

Why should I do it?

Why can’t you?

Are you too afraid of what we might do?

Given a chance I would take it

To show them

I am more than an item

To be displayed

I am more than a mother

Left at home to mind children

I am more than a housekeeper

Left to wash away the dirt.

I refuse to let you break me

I refuse to let you walk all over me.

I am strong.

I can do this.

But it all comes back to one question

Why do I have to do it?