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. 

Raise Your Voice

Twice this week
I spoke out
When I saw things
That felt
Not right
I said so

Admittedly
I did it on
Facebook and Twitter
Spoke through the screen
With written words

But even that
Took courage
Because one is afraid of
Trolls
Lurking out in
Cyberspace
Ready to pounce
Mock
Belittle
Deny

And reading
Posts and articles by
Miss Representation
And Everyday Sexism
And Eve Ensler
Have inspired me
To be courageous
And let my voice be heard
Even if only on a tiny stage
But perhaps
Even if only to one person
It can make a difference
Then it is worth speaking out

Because
What if every single one of us
Decided/realized/embraced
That what we did mattered?
What could change?

The end.

Strength, Courage, and Wisdom

I’ve been back in London just over a month

And I’ve been feeling depressed and frustrated

And my energy levels are like a yo-yo.

One day I’m raring to go

And the next I can barely get out of bed

And I’m like

What’s the deal?! 

I’m eating well, I’m exercising, I’m meditating...

Why does it still not feel right?! 

And I realized, 

After coffee with a lovely friend,

Who inspires me because she is down to earth

And talented

And successful

And still a wonderful person,

That the reason I have been feeling so 

Bleurgh

Is because I haven’t been following my heart

I’ve been slogging away

Working long hours and only just covering my bills,

Barely, 

And submitting myself for agents

And getting endlessly rejected

And feeling like I’m not the 

Right Type

Because I am female and I have short hair and any other myriad of reasons of why

I am Not Suitable 

And at the same time 

Reading about women in the media

And becoming more and more aware

That the media has no idea how to portray women

Or anyone who isn’t a white male

And I’m trying so hard to be in this system

And understanding that

The System is All Wrong

Because women, and anyone who isn’t a white male,

Are not represented adequately in politics or on television or in the press or anywhere that has a say in how the world is run

And I had this epiphany!

WHAT AM I DOING?!?!

I came to London to follow my heart and my dreams and to be happy dammit! 

And here I am 

Struggling and feeling miserable and frustrated

And THIS WILL NOT DO.

So. As of right this minute! I am saying

I am DONE with The System.

I’m writing my own words. I’m following my own path. 

And I CARE NOT! if it’s not “the right way” or “the way it’s supposed to be done” or "not what women in their late twenties are supposed to be doing”

It’s my life

And it’s now or never.

I ain’t gonna live forever! 

So I’m taking a deep breath

And taking the path less traveled (by me)

And I’m going to 

Trust my instincts

And fly confidently in the direction of my dreams. 

The end. 

Inspiration v. Despair

I love messages that are inspiring and full of hope and leave me feeling positive
It's why I'm fascinated by A is For and Occupy and No More Page 3, and V-Day
And all the A-Z of organizations who in their own way
Are just trying to make it better, easier, nicer
For people.
Because that's what we all are in the end
Whether we're writers or artists or bankers or plumbers or dentists
We. Are. People.

It's why I love artists like Amy Krouse Rosenthal.
Not just artists
Writers and composers and historians and entrepreneurs and builders and all the souls just trying to make a difference.
People who say,
Let's make this better
Let's make this nicer, more beautiful, more inspiring
A less harsh place to live in.
Like Eve Ensler, like Martha Plimpton, like Anne Summers.

It's why I loved reading Obama's book.
He has the audacity to hope for something better
A time, a place, a now that doesn't tread on people
And why is it so audacious to want hope?
Shouldn't it be utterly audacious to only see the bottom line, to hurt, to lie, to steal, to see a world devoid of beauty?
Imagine a world where people were actually nice to each other.
Imagine such a thing
"Hippy" John Lennon.
If you believe in peace and love and nicety, you're a damn communist.

We are a rock revolting.
There is so much anger and hate and sadness,
But it can be different.
We must speak out.
We must appreciate each other.
We must not be afraid.

I've been afraid.
I am afraid
Of my own voice.
So afraid I haven't written, I haven't sung, I'm scared of dancing in public.
I'm scared of my own body.
Because the people who speak out
Are laughed at, trolled, vilified, shot.
People are miserable, living on the street, dying horrifically.
God, it can all seem so awful.

And I shift between total inspiration
And total despair.
What can I do?!
Breathe. Just breathe.
And trust that it all gets better. That change IS possible.
And get on with what I have to do.

The end.