How I fell Prey to Misinformed Feminism: A Short Poem

Written by: Ananya Garg

​When I was a toddler 

I used to play with barbies and other such toys

These toys they said were “meant for girls not boys”

I used to go to the barbie shop and get excited 

All the clothes we got were pink and sparkly and I felt invited

This continued till I was 12 years old.

I didn’t just play with barbies but also G.I Joes

In my paternal grandparent’s house

My father and uncle played with video games and were crouse 

When I entered my tweens

I started feeling insecure 

I thought my peers were cool and pink just wasn’t my colour

So in order to “not be like other girls”

I started to fall in love with blue and green and black

As long as it wasn’t pink, I thought I was on the right track.

I wish I could write a letter and deliver it to the past.

I would tell little me that these stereotypes never last.

Wearing a certain colour or having a certain theme deemed “not fit” by the society 

Doesn’t kill your vibe 

You should stay true to your tribe 

So today when I was pondering over 

My foolishness 

I wondered what exactly got inside my head

All girls are so beautiful 

While I judged them just like a fool

I claim to be a “feminist”

But I didn’t have the slightest gist

That I was in fact bad at this job 

Feminism isn’t a choice 

It’s a law

I can’t believe 

Misogyny 

It was so ingrained in my brain 

I believed 

But now, I understand this game 

And I pray

That other girls don’t fall prey

I hope they understand, being a woman 
​
Isn’t something bad.

         ~A.G//  how I always wanted to be a boy

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