Raise Your Voice

The world abounds in

Misogyny

The systematic hatred of women

That permeates our society

And displays itself in

Rape

Abuse

And all manner of violence against women

We are a rock revolting

Around a burning sun

It is frightening and ugly and demeaning and soul destroying

Women are under-represented in every institution and industry we can name

In some places we are not allowed out the front door

In many spheres we are presented only as objects of sex

Denied our bodies in others

And always put down

All the fact of an x v. y

And it’s not that men and women

“Hate women” as such

We have sisters! And mothers! And aunts! And daughters!

And friends who are girls and women

I am not one of them

One of those people who

Hates women

But the hatred

Is a habit

Entrenched after two thousand years

Of power struggle, of

Systematic suppression, repression,

Denial

Of the rights of women

To live

And yet

We must keep going

Because it doesn’t have to be this way

It is possible for men and women

To work together

As equals

By speaking out

And naming it

And calling it out

When it happens

In the press, in our speech, in everyday conversation

We can chip away at this

Belittling of one half of the population of the planet

Until misogyny and sexism

Are relics

People are working

Everyday every moment every second

To make it better

The Eve Ensler's and Caroline Criado-Perez's and NMP3's and #everydaysexism's and AnneSummers’ of the world

The campaigners and dreamers and artists and writers and regular everyday people who are making an honest effort

Out there in the world

Really trying

To create a world where

Women have equal rights

To life and dignity 

Where is your voice?

And what is it saying?

The end.