Woman

Woman

By Freya Anastasia Hatfield

She was told no

because she was a girl.

She was told no

because she was a female.

She was told that because of her gender, she'd be no good.

She was told that 

boys would always be better than her

in everything.

She was told that someday she'd meet someone

who would worship her,

but that she'd stay at home,

waiting for him to return from work,

a meal would have to be on the table.

The house would be clean,

and children would be looked after.

She grew up

knowing her place,

knowing where she stood,

she stood behind her husband,

she stayed at home.

She looked after the children, 

cleaned their home, 

made him food.

She did everything by the book

except for living her life.

She lived the lives of the people she loved,

she told her daughters they could be anything,

told her sons they too could be anything, 

as long as they respected not only what men wanted, 

but what women also wanted.

She told her daughters that a clean house, 

food on the table and happy children 

were all good things and should happen,

but not all by one person.

She told her daughters that they too could live a fun life, 

they could earn money,

that they didn't have to be a housewife like she was.

She loved her family and what she did,

but she didn't like that she had no life.

She had everything she wanted,

though she didn't do anything she wanted

She had to tell her husband when she was going out, 

where she was going,

what time she'd be home,

if he struggled with the kids, he expected her to return.

Enough is enough,

she made her voice heard,

this isn't a marriage,

this isn't a home,

and this isn't my life.

This is a prison,

I work day in day out and get nothing back.

On the outside, I look happy,

but inside this isn't me,

for too long I've been told no because of who I am,

I have dreams,

I have ambitions.

I want my daughters growing up 

knowing they're valued.

She stood 

picking up a bag,

her children walking in front of her.

She said

I'm no longer under your rules,

I no longer live by what you say.

I am a woman,

I am strong,

I am smart,

I am powerful,

I'm everything you are and more.

My daughters will grow up being 

strong, 

independent, 

determined, 

women.

My sons will grow up also being

strong, 

independent,

determined,

men.

They will be seen as equal

men will stay home, 

women will work.

Women will stay home

men will work.

Being a housewife will be shared.

Her daughters grew up

knowing that their father meant well,

but that he had been wrong

they grew up being strong,

being independent,

being smart,

being determined,

women.

Their brothers grew up

being strong,

being independent,

being smart,

being determined,

men.

They lived lives they wanted

when they got married and had children,

they shared the home workload

because the years had changed.

The daughters were now seen as equal to their husbands,

the sons saw their wives as being equal to them.

Their mother had taught them that what you wish for you will get,

she had shown her children how to be respectful, 

strong, 

independent, 

determined young adults.

So when the time came, 

she knew she had helped raise a generation that wanted to change the time.

She knew she'd be leaving a world behind,

where she had fought for her right,

and won that right for her children,

grandchildren,

great-grandchildren,

and generations to come.

Generations who are now told yes

because of her.