I am a woman,
Not a figurine that can be stood on a shelf
Not a piece of decoration
Not a hood ornament,
Not a piece of arm candy
A woman

I don’t dress for anyone but myself.
If I wear a belly shirt,
It’s not because I am a sl*t.
I want to show off my waist.
If I wear a long skirt,
It’s not because I am prudish,
But because I love the feeling of the cloth on my legs.
If I wear pants,
It’s not because I am a tom boy
But because they are comfortable

Boys, if you see me at a party,
Don’t assume I am here for a hook up with you.
I am there because I want to enjoy myself with friends.
I am not interested in pick up lines
You can buy me a drink,
but don’t think that grants you any favors.
If I push you away,
I am not a b****,
I am choosing to share myself with someone more worthy.

I am whatever I chose to be,
Not what a thin billboard
Or a bottle of shampoo demands of me.
I reject all stereotypes.
I break the mold, because I am an individual.
I don’t need to work to gain your respect,
If I am talented, and good at my work,
That should mean more than my gender.
I am a woman,
A human being.
I refuse to be anything than me.
You can try to mold me into what you think I should be,
But then you will find I am more than your wildest imagination.
I am strong
I am wise
I am confident
I do not need to fight for a respectable place in society
Among the men
There should be plenty of spots for me.

.
You can call me degrading names
I dare you to make me anything less.
But that belittles you, not me.
I am a woman,
Not a puppet.
I am intimidating,
Because I have power,
that comes from within,
a stubborn flame that will burn,
and burn
and burn.
No matter what, I will still be a woman.