They tell us from a young age

That “boys will be boys”

But instead we should teach

Girls are not toys

We must cover up our shoulders

Because we’re being a distraction

Because boys are never to blame

For their actions

Boys can shout to the world about

How many girls they touch

But if girls do that they get labeled a slut

And I don't like that too much

They tell us to cover our face with makeup

That beauty should be our dream

Then they wonder why

We have low self-esteem

When a woman wears something

That makes her feel great in her body

People get disgusted and

Label them as gaudy

When will they teach us

What all the catcalls mean?

Instead of telling us to keep quiet

And feel flattered while they scream?

We must walk home before the sun sets

Because if we do it at night

The monsters creep out

And all we feel is fright

Mama always said

Keep your keys between the fingers on your hand

I don’t want you to get snatched up

And go somewhere unplanned

Why do predators attack us

Despite our endless stream of NOs?

Do our words mean less than

What's under our clothes?

People wonder why sexual abuse isn't big

But they don't know about the 83% of women who don’t tell

Because they're afraid they’ll get called a liar

And their attacker will never see a cell

Women around the world are told

In the presence of a man to cover their face

Because instead of a human being

They're treated as a dumb dreadful disgrace

Because we can vote

Our oppression isn't real

Then why is the “ideal women” expected

To stay home to clean and make a meal?

When a woman goes to work

She makes 77￠to every man’s dollar

Then the news attacks protesters

But if that were you wouldn't you want to holler?

When a woman shares her voice

She’s told to sit down she’s out of her place

But she’s trying to fix the problem

All these beliefs embedded in us she’s trying to erase

The government is full of men

Because they think women aren't strong

But their rules aren't working

We’ve been under their rule too long

MLK had a dream why can’t we?

We’re all the same underneath our skin

We have a dream of equality

Whether we’re feminine or masculine

Feminism is perceived as bad

But men and women are making an alliance

Because our world isn't equal

And we refuse to live in silence