The Sickness

There is a sickness in the way we think, a disease that spreads with every nasty comment we throw at one another; it festers and propagates with every passing judgment.

It’s because we think rejecting someone makes them shallow, but pursuing someone makes them desperate, because even the thought of choosing the type person that makes you happy will make you picky.

It’s because we think men catcalling women is a compliment, not harassment, even when the woman has hunched up her shoulders in fear, desperately making up excuses to make that man go away.

It’s because we blame our women for sexual harassment, that we tell them to cover up and always keep their keys in their pocket, because only god knows if the man following you is just walking in the same direction or if he’s ready to attack you.

It’s because we think showing weakness is girly, because even girls insult a man for being a sissy, because a man is only as great as his masculinity and strength.

It’s because we think girls problems are solved when they doll themselves up to please other people, not to please themselves, because obviously the opinion of a man passing you on the street is more important than your own.

It’s Because short shorts and tank tops are too revealing, but long sleeve shirts and pants are too prudish, because you aren’t allowed to dress how you want unless everyone else approves.

It’s Because a women with muscles is too butch, and a man who likes pink is too girly, because grey is the only colour both genders are allowed to like without being judged.

It’s Because a person who’s fatter doesn’t care enough, but a person who’s skinnier cares too much, and if you dare to like yourself for how you are, you’re a narcissist.

It’s Because if a girl openly likes other women, she gets treated like a pervert in the locker room, because obviously she want to harass every woman she sees.

It’s Because if a guy loves another man, he gets shunned and beat up because to the others, it’s just unnatural.

It’s Because if someone identifies as a man despite their biological marker, they’re forced to pick which washroom they’d rather go into; to pick whether they want to get beat up in the men’s washroom or yelled at in the women’s.

It’s Because you have to be one or the other, you can’t be both, and you can’t be none. You must be a boy or a girl, you must be straight or gay. There is no such thing as being non-binary, or trans; there is no such thing and Bi and Ace.

It’s because even women perpetuate the systemic sexism, instead of respecting and loving and treating each other as equals.

It’s because men shame other men for being weak or feminine, because it’s shameful to be ‘like women’.

It’s because the same sexism that hurts women, also hurts men and we’re stuck in this eternal loop of internalized misogyny and vocal discrimination.

There is a discrimination in our gender, appearance, sexuality, identity.

There is discrimination in what makes us happy.

There is a sickness in the way we think.