Female
Martine Beauvais
Photo by Tumblr
Hips swaying in the distance,
she walks into the metro.
Her stride is armored with purpose and
her grace is like perfume.
She is a woman,
yet they call her Female.
The word bursts forth from their lips like a curse.
It lurches up from the bitter valleys of their gnashed teeth,
like a venomous spider coming up from it's Trap door.
Female, they say accusingly..
They are caught between their wonder and amazement of her,
while also trapped by their fear and disdain for her strength.
Female, they hiss!
As if she is to blame for their uncouth desires and base instincts.
They know what it truly means when they call her 'Female'.
It is the code of fragmented egos;
easy to grasp and hurl.
They labor ceaselessly to belittle her and cheapen her radiance with their curses,
yet they do not know her worth is protected and can never be compromised.
"These Females", they say in reference to her...
It is a weapon used in attempt to strip her of her right to respect.
Boys, like these
may call her female;
But real men know that her true name is Woman.
** This is inspired by my disdain for the term 'Female' when used by black men and women to refer to other women. Although it is not blatantly and insult, the use of the term when referring to women carries a subtle and sexist allusion that roots the worth and role of a woman solely on her gender. This term is often used in an accusatory and condescending manner as to belittle, dismiss or criticize the thoughts and ideas of black women.