Born as Yours, as His

Abstract

With the rate of sexual assault on campus, I often think about how womxn are born into and raised to be scared of the world around us. That we are always on the defense with the war on our bodies. Even with similar dangers that men can face, we are sheltered and protected without choice while men have far more freedom to do what they want. For example, cishet men tend to feel more safe walking around at night and do not need help o be on-guard at parties. Rather than addressing the root of the problem in how our bodies should be respected, society places the burden on us, and we have to bring this trauma or acknowledge risks in every space we enter. It’s suffocating. A burden is placed onto womxn the second we enter this world, screaming and crying, and we carry it with us into adulthood. Every generation before has sustained this burden, so much so this protective nature toward daughters is instilled in parenting. Ultimately, this poem delves into how growing up in fear stunted my growth and required extra attention to embark on new experiences.