Where do I start to explain how I feel about being a woman

Where do I start to explain how I feel about being a woman

You praise me for being able to procreate as a mother
But you also judge me if I choose to be a mother before I choose to become your wife

You light a lamp in my honor for 9 days a year And choose to burn me in that same fire a few days later

You applaud me for my ability to multitask But have you ever really asked me if I wish to share my burden?

You call me Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth But the only wealth you count my worth in, is the dowry I bring

You shower and pamper me with your love when I am your daughter

But as a wife you expect me to leave behind the warmth of my Daddys arms

You disown your son if he is gay
But choose kill me as soon as I am born, creating such an imbalance in nature

You say all duties are on me because I am mentally and physically strong
And yet you beat me up every chance you get to prove you are stronger

You grow up barely allowing me time to take care of me
And when it's your turn to care, I get tagged as a burden and sent into a dark place you will never visit

You say you abolished the practice of "SATI" decades ago
So you don't throw me into the fire anymore
But you also take away from me my right to live outside the pire!

The vagina that birthed you holds the highest regard as a mother
And the vagina that you abuse, that you choose to disrespect,
The same passage you used to enter this world into,
Becomes that of a whore, as per your convenience!

Where do I start to explain how I feel about being a woman...

- Karuna Kochar