A Good Little Girls Zine

Dear Nephews,

Boys will be…

Responsible,
kind,
empathetic,
respectful,
Seekers of Equality:
Fighting to Debunk the Stereotypes imprinted
onto the fabric of their skin before they are even born–
like the hues of their clothing,
and the emotionless expressions,
and the puff your chest out and walk around,
have perfectly sculpted abs
have lots of sex
watch porn,
learn that women are here for you
solely to care take and pleasure-YOU-
When it’s time to marry,
marry a woman who is a lady in the streets
and a freak in your sheets…

Resist the temptation to follow
in the footsteps of your predecessors, dear boys,
you know the ones who have perpetuated the principle: women are objects
and thus must keep up their appearances,
the men who said things like:
you got fat, did you stop dancing/
you know you can get your chin hair waxed/
why don’t you freeze your eggs so that you can have children/
if you want to get a nose job, I’ll pay for half of it/
don’t tell anyone you were sexually assaulted, they may not want to marry you/
you didn’t get a hysterectomy did you/
let your brother take your money, he’s your brother after all/

It’ll be hard, harder, hardest
to never laugh when you hear:
“he fights like a girl,”
or “he’s a pussy”
or “don’t be a girl, man up”
or “don’t be a girl, stop crying”

But doing the right thing is never easy,
dear boys,

However.

Doing right
is. freedom.

And don’t you want
to
be free.
live free.
die free.

Picture of Sonia Chintha

Sonia Chintha

Sonia Chintha is an Indian American writer who lives in the Washington DC area. She blogs, writes poetry, and fiction. She is also an English teacher who believes that our experiences teach us more than any test. She is the founder and co-editor of Good Little Girls.

You Might Also Like...

In the Middle

One rainy evening, after a hip-hop class, I boldly asked to my then artistic director her opinion of my ability.  For ten months, I had

Read More

From Afar

From afar I see the brilliant sparkle traveling down the river carried by the loving wind From afar I feel the sadness that wraps around

Read More