In Year 8 English we are currently studying the Speculative Fiction anthology Eat the Sky, Drink the Ocean. The students have been learning about the waves of feminism and how they must be the change they want to see in society. Students have also been encouraged to enter the Boroondara Literary Awards, with some empowering short stories and poems submitted. Please enjoy this poem "The Perception of Women", written by Sharlise Huynh, Year 8.
Ladies, girls, females
Had all started with just one male
All was good at the start
Eyes, mouth and a big heart
Fast forward many years
Problems occurring and ending in tears
Women were always being looked down
Walking on the streets, with a non-existent crown
Females had become ignored
Chores, family and a plain old record
The future for women was no more
Dumping it all in amongst the shore
Men started having high expectations
Laws, rules, regulations
Tall, skinny, blonde
Thinking women would change with just the touch of a magic wand
Skirts, dresses, bows
Heels, hair and a little nose
Small, slim, pretty
How about adding a cute, little, kitty
Women wanted equality, being fair
When all those men did was want them bare
Men鈥檚 liking was only on a lady鈥檚 physique
Nothing about their soul, just on critiques
Oh, be this, oh be that
Here and there, chitchat chitchat
鈥淗ey! Let me buy you a drink.鈥�
鈥淵ou could really use it,鈥� adding on a wink
Being abused, used, and sold
Thinking of them as objects, leaving them in the cold
All feeling in the body had become numb
Sleeping at night, feeling very lonesome
Take the Cinderella story
Always giving men all the glory
The ugly stepsisters had just wanted to impress
Ending with Cinderella falling for the plain, old damsel in distress
Mulan had swapped it all around
With no crown or gown
Fighting for her own place
Leaving all men in disgrace
She had fought for her old man
No need for poison apples, heels, or a saucepan
She had used all her strength and power
Returning home with no hands holding a flower
Now look at actresses in our time
In films about a war crime
Only there to act as the nurse
Not allowed to act as the inverse
Besides acting in the settings of war
Women were seen as assistants, mopping the floor
Unable to portray a character that鈥檚 tough
Working hard, respecting peers, yet not being paid enough
Having to show skin that would catch a man鈥檚 eye
Then asking if they were looking, and would deny
Wondering why men would just stare
At the bum, cleavage, and what they wear
Knowing women were expected to be weak
Laughing and laughing at one鈥檚 loud shriek
Thinking fighting women would end in an instant heartbeat
Because they鈥檙e just small and sweet
Going back to actresses on TV
Being treated like leftover debris
Superheroes, agents, and detectives kicking arse
鈥淗ey, you know you could鈥檝e just said pass鈥�
Only a few recommended sports
Men had many games of all sorts
鈥淵ou hit like a girl, you play like a girl!鈥�
鈥淕o back to ballet and do a little twirl鈥�
They played rough
Making women seem like they weren鈥檛 enough
Bruises here, cuts there
On a man鈥檚 level, they both could not compare
Abuse in the workplace
Towards women, not seen as a disgrace
But the fact that bosses to this day, think it鈥檚 okay
Made the situation a real downplay
Police trying to deal with all of it
Some caring, the rest don鈥檛 bother to commit
Letting it go, 鈥淏e safer next time鈥�
Walking away with confusion, wondering how they don鈥檛 see it as a hate crime
Being dragged into court
All they need right now is some support
Demanding a right, the judge denies
Leaving them 鈥榰naware鈥� of all those lies
So sick of the words of men
Hearing it over and over again
Finally deciding to take a stand
Hoping it will go smoothly, just as planned
All women coming together as a whole
On the streets, taking a stroll
Taking a stand, fighting for their own
Getting more in on the act, making themselves known
All around the world they knew
That they鈥檙e demands are now known as Me Too
Finally getting the recognition that they鈥檝e longed for
Influencing others, and many more
Although this is still happening today
Encouraging others to keep it going, like it鈥檚 on replay
Many more need to be aware
So, all could be settled and are all fair
