(IN) Equality

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.