Why is it wrong when a girl has fun, Goes on dates, laughs in the sun? They point and whisper, call her names, But when a boy does it, there’s no shame. She is blamed for things they praise in men, Over and over, again and again. She’s told to hide, to feel regret, For choices boys make without a threat. If she loses her virginity, They question her morals, her dignity. But boys are never asked to explain No guilt, no blame, no lasting stain. If a man hurts her, the world looks away, But if she’s hurt, she’s made to pay. “They say her clothes were just too short,” As if her pain is her own fault. She’s locked at home, “It’s not safe outside,” While the man who did it walks with pride. She lives in fear, with wounds so deep, And still, they say, “You made your bed, now weep.” If a woman goes out, she’s always stared. Those lustful eyes make her feel scared. It’s not all men, but it’s always men, Again and again and again. From little girls to old grandmothers too, So many lives destroyed — yet what do we do? We teach the daughters to cover and hide, But the ones who hurt them walk with pride. “Don’t stay out late,” “Don’t wear that skirt,” As if her outfit caused the hurt. “Don’t talk to boys,” “Be soft and small,” But never teach the boys at all. Some women blame other women too, They’ve learned what the world taught them to do. But this blame, this pain, this silent cry, Needs to stop — we need to ask why. Why is she always the one to bend? Why does her struggle never end? Her voice is loud, her pain is true, But what can she alone do? A world where women can walk and breathe, Where safety isn’t just a dream to weave. Where the blame is placed where it belongs, And every girl can grow up strong. -lai