No Stopping a Woman Once Her Voice is Found!

-

 


When women say in disgust, "I am not a feminist," I cringe at their lack of gratitude. Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave American women the constitutional right to vote. It was a hard-earned victory.

All of us benefit from the tremendous sacrifices of the feminists who marched through the pages of history so that we can chart our course today. As the suffragettes fought for equality, they were physically and emotionally abused. I understand why some would prefer not to get involved in such messy work. But young women today are sitting on the shoulders of a previous generation that dared to challenge the status quo. Feminists deserve our gratitude, not our hostility.

Remarkably, the Gospel portrays Jesus as a radical feminist who defied social norms by showing respect to women.Though women were considered property like cattle at the time, Jesus stopped to talk, heal and defend them. It was scandalous, and Jesus didn't give a hoot. He cared about love, justice and releasing God's children from the bondage of oppression. We are called to continue his work, and we have a lot of work to do.  

I recently wrote this poem after a medical professional addressed me as "girl" several times in a brief conversation. I am not usually offended by the term, but his dismissive tone was infuriating. "Girl, don't worry about that." After the third time, I asked, "Do you call male patients, 'boy'?" He stared at me blankly as if to say, "Oh, you are one of those women."

Whether we march in protest for social justice or politely ask a doctor to check his language, we are called to use our voices so others have a chance fulfill their God-given dreams.



Don’t Call Me Girl!


“Why get a degree just to hang on a wall?”  

They’ll hire a mediocre man after all.  

“You’re pretty and sweet. You will be a great wife.”

I’m glad I ignored him and enrolled for a life.

He borrowed my notes then he skipped the class, 

I quietly laughed when he didn’t pass.  


He took what he wanted. He said no goodbye. 

The emptiness yawned and it swallowed my cries. 

I didn’t believe I could make it on my own.

I stayed with him cause I feared the unknown.

In a terrible void with no color, no light. 

I found the space where creation takes flight.  


Excuse me, it’s clear you have misunderstood.

I wasn’t born just to make men feel good.  

I’ll live for my dreams and I’ll chart my own course. 

Don’t call me a girl, I’m a strong steady force. 

I’m stronger than I look and I won’t back down.

No stopping a woman once her voice is found.


Be twice as good as a man so they say

And you’ll get a good job but for just half the pay. 

Come early. Bring donuts. Brew coffee. Make cake.

Then I cover up all his stupid mistakes.  

So I greeted and typed. Did my job and more, 

Kept workin’ hard to find the next open door.  


Excuse me, it’s clear you have misunderstood.  

I wasn’t born just to make men feel good.  

I’ll live for my dreams and I’ll chart my own course. 

Don’t call me a girl, I’m a bold massive force

I’m stronger than I look and I won’t back down.

No stopping a woman once her voice is found.


I swirled away when his hand grabbed my ass.  

I laughed at his jokes, and ignored the pass. 

He wants coffee with cream and a side of sex.

I’ve got something better — quick wit, intellect.

My soul could have died in the filth of his lust, 

So I turned. I twirled. I escaped his thrust.  


Excuse me, it’s clear you have misunderstood. 

I wasn’t born just to make men feel good.  

I’ll live for my dreams and I’ll chart my own course. 

Don’t call me a girl, I’m a fierce f@#%*king, 

I’m stronger than I look and I won’t back down.

No stopping a woman once her voice is found.


Popular posts from this blog

Pulling the World Toward Love

-
Image
Pulling the World Toward Love “Can you come pray for a man who is dying?” a nurse from a nearby hospital asked. “He won’t last much longer.” After I agr eed, she explained the sit uation. “The patient is dying of AIDS, and his family does not want his partner in the room.” Fresh out of seminary, I was ill equipped for the moment. Nothing in the ivory tower of academia had prepared me for what was about to happen. When I stepped off the hospital elevator, I found the man’s partner doubled over in a chair wailing in grief. I thought perhaps the AIDS patient had already died. I was wrong. The patient was alive, but the man sobbing in the hallway had no legal right to enter his room. After introducing myself, I sat down while he sobbed into his knees. Fumbling and awkward, I confess  that my silent pleas for God's help were mixed with regret that I had picked up the phone. In hindsight, I realize that the call was a tremendous gift.   In a few moments, those two men taught me more abou
Read more

Where the Hell Are the Referees?

-
Image
Where the Hell Are the Referees?   The world is dying for referees. Flagrant fouls keep slamming down on God’s black and brown children with deadly force. Protests against the horrors of white supremacy are met with more police brutality. We need referees to enforce the rule of love. Where in the hell are they?  Oh wait, that’s right.  I am supposed to be a referee and so are you.  People of faith are called to know and enforce the rule of love. We can’t wait for the government or anyone else to do it for us.  Now more than ever, the church must be on high alert. When we see a flagrant foul, we must to call it immediately and demand change. Police who lack integrity and compassion need to be ejected from their positions. If they commit a criminal act, they should be arrested and charged.  If businesses discriminate against employees or customers because of race, gender, or sexual preference, they should be held accountable.  These are the moral laws that support a just and functiona
Read more
-
Image
  Life feels like an unassembled Ikea dresser these days. Pieces are scattered across the floor and the instructions to put it together make no sense. Where are the clearly written step-by-step directions for the novice?  None of us have ever lived through a pandemic. We are all novices.  Without specific directions, how do we put our lives together so we can hold the full weight of human emotions like love and fear, joy and sorrow, hope and frustration? I keep turning to our spiritual ancestors for help. In the absence of clear, specific instructions, they learned to rely on faith. Time and time again in Scripture, angels startled ordinary people with shocking news. Though they appeared to different people at different times, the heavenly hosts essentially brought the same message:  "Drop everything. Give up your old life and strike out to build a new one for God."   After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph must have thought that they had seen the last of heavenly hosts. F
Read more