Every 8th of March the same question is asked
“When did we celebrate International Men’s Day last?”
“It’s the 19th November” voices reply
But the questioners don’t notice, don’t bat an eye.
“Well we don’t make a song and dance” they say
“We don’t kick up a fuss in quite the same way
Why are you using your voices to make such a row?
Haven’t you heard there’s equality now?”
“Equality?” I think as I start raising my voice
Not when there are people who can’t help but rejoice
At a deftly created rape joke delivered with a smile
Because it’s all just banter isn’t it? Not vitriolic bile.
But then there are women being killed by their ex
Beaten and belittled because of their sex
Only six of the FTSE 100 have female CEO’s
And women who are raped “deserved it, those hoes”
Because their “skirts were too short” or they “got too drunk”
It’s their fault, isn’t it, not down to that punk
who took advantage, didn’t get consent
Thought he could do what he wanted without her assent
Yes we can vote, and yes we can thrive
As long as it’s in a way which doesn’t seem too contrived
“The PM’s a woman” the meninists decree
“And the Queen is a woman, so just leave things be”
But we “feminazi’s” can’t let things go
While the media picks out something else to show
Us we’re not perfect, not doing as we should
How skinnier is better and pretty is good
When trans women are told they’re not real women at all
And board members “belong in the kitchen chained with a ball”
As women are ejaculated on on the tube
As we’re felt up and catcalled and harassed by some dude.
“Equality?” I think as I start raising my voice
We are feminists, we do not have a choice
But to stand up for our sisters and others as well
Every woman we know who has been going through hell
While being battered and damaged and kicked and destroyed
raped and murdered and belittled by boys
Underpaid, overworked, judged and harassed
Nothing more than a pair of boobs and piece of ass
So every 8th of March when the same question is asked
“When did we celebrate International Men’s Day last?”
I’ll stand with my sisters, intersectionality first
And say we know #NotAllMen are the worst
But tell them we have a long way to go
That the patriarchy is still very much in full flow
We’ll stand our ground and fight for the day
When women and men are treated exactly the same way.
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