It's been my dream in life to be taken seriously

To be intelligent

To be adept

To have a voice

 

But at every turn it's

If you just used a little rogue and shadow

you'd be prettier

better

 

Wear this

it's appropriate

it's prudish

it's slutty

you'd look elegant

you'd be pretty

you're asking for it

 

Don't be loud

or argue

don't nag

you should be seen

and not heard

 

Don't get dirty

you'll ruin your clothes

your hands

that's no place for a “lady”

 

It's been my goal to be taken seriously

For what I am capable of doing

and not for how others think I should look in the mirror.