Happy International Women's Day

Today I am sharing an old piece; something I wrote many, many moons ago. I wanted to write an ode to feminism. I was at a place where I was reading a lot of feminist theory, poetry, and fiction from the 50s, 60s, and onwards, and I was obviously inspired. I wanted to thank the feministic warriors of the past. That is a feat I could not take up, considering how many heroes there were/are to thank. But I wrote this; it couldn't possibly convey just how thankful I am, but I hope my appreciation resonates even a little. Throughout my piece, you will find quotes from other feminists, quotes I was inspired by and felt fit into my piece. These quotes are from: Adrienne Rich, bell hooks, Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth, Audre Lorde, Angela Davis, Margaret Atwood, Shirley Chisholm, and Gloria Steinem.

(I understand that these women don't exactly encapsulate "international women", but like I said, this is an old piece. It still highlights women, and the struggle and fight for equal rights. These struggles are international. The fight for equality crosses borders).

Happy International Women's day, ya'll. Keep fighting the good fight.

I will not apologize for being too much.

For then I would have to look back and apologize to all the women who lost their voices generations before me, carried away as they screamed, as they stood beside each other on the street and demanded to be seen. Who fought to no longer be a whisper bound by a ring around their finger, bound by their children who clung to their feet, bound by men who ruled a hell called the patriarchy, bound by their bodies who were chained to men’s sexual needs. Bound to the male gaze, to men’s absurd fantasies. Bound, bound, bound. I would have to apologize to the women who never gave up. Who recognized that our lives were important and that “feminism is for everybody”. Who unbounded themselves from the weight of their oppressors and spoke their truth “creating the possibility for more truth around her”. Around all women.

I will not apologize for being too difficult.

For then I would have to turn backwards and face those who were left with no choices. To the women who were told to submit and shut up. Told they had one purpose in life: to birth children and please men. I would have to apologize to the women of colour who had to fight for their place in a world where even their sisters of lighter complexions turned their back on them. And so, they were not afraid to ask, “Ain’t I A Woman?” to assert their humanity. I would have to apologize to all the women who changed the frequency, to turn up the volume of their drowned-out voices. Who stood up knowing they would be broken down. Who screamed knowing they would be shunned. Called crazy and insane, mentally ill, and sick. All so they could change the frequency. Who did “the work even though we don’t see a glimmer on the horizon”. Who lived “their life as a model for others”. Others, like me. They changed the frequency for women to be heard and heard and repeated, no longer silenced, or defeated. I would have to apologize to the women who made it difficult to keep them down... so I could be difficult now, without apologizing.

I will not apologize for being hard to love.

For then I would have to face the past and apologize to the ones who hurt me. To the ones who broke me, for making it so it will never be easy to break me again. I would have to apologize to the women who made it so being someone’s submissive partner was not a woman’s purpose in life. Who knew that “the emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says: It’s a girl”. And so, they shouted, sang, wrote, screamed, spoke bold words out into the world to prove the complexities of the woman. For they knew “a word after a word after a word is power”. Who proved that a woman’s soul is not timid, it is solid, strong, concrete. More than what a man thinks it should be. They knew that “liberation does not come from the outside”. And they searched within their deep colourful vibrant souls and let it out in all modes and all means. To be heard, to be seen.

I will not apologize for being too intense, too loud, too proud.

For then I would have to look my heroes in the face and shun them for all the progress they have made. Who knew that “revolution is not a one time event”. That it continues through me. Through all of us. For they knew that “it is in collectivities that we find reservoirs of hope and optimism”. And through that hope they did not stop. And through us they still rise. And we owe them because they fought for a place, they fought for THEIR place, they fought for MY place. Yes, they fought for my space to be able to say: I will not apologize.

With Love,

Teya