"I need feminism because I’m tired of being afraid of walking in my own drivewayto admire the..."

“I need feminism because

I’m tired of being afraid

of walking in my own driveway

to admire the stars alignment

at 2 a.m. I need feminism

because I was rasied

in a home where women

were supposed to follow

the men, but never the other

way around. I need feminism

because when I say that I

want to be able to have

the right of what I do with

my own body, I get called

weak and insensitive rather

than strong and independent.

I need feminism because

when I was 14, a boy who

was 16 and on the wrestling

team slammed my skull

into the open locker door

because I wouldn’t blow him

in the bathroom during

study hall, and I was

the one who was called

a manipulative tease

instead of the victim.

I need feminism

because if I speak my mind

I am a bitch, and not a free-

thinker. I need feminism

because I don’t want to

be afraid of saying no to

a man that I don’t know,

who is asking me if I can

just give him a chance.

I need feminism because

I’m tired of being afraid

of walking on the street

in broad daylight, waiting

for a group of horny boys

to call me demeaning names

because I won’t show them

more skin than I have

already exposed. I need

feminism because I ache

for the women who’s lives

are ended shortly just because

they wanted to go home

and not into some strangers bed.”

- "I need feminism, " - Colleen Brown