My Struggles are Real

I was born a girl.
My struggles are real.

From when I was told to play
with the kitchen set made of clay.
My struggles are real.

I was told to smile and not laugh loud
I was told to touch the heart, not the clouds.
My struggles are real.

I grew up a pretty girl with beautiful hair
Bullied by boys and Uncles, but could never share.
My struggles are real.

I was touched and kissed as I cried
My mother told me run next time he tried
My struggles are real

I grew up a silent toy
For many a uncle, many a boy
My struggles are real

Slowly as my breast grew
Invisible was my face and my brains too
My struggles are real

Took the matters into my own hands
Slapped a guy, for my life I ran
My struggles are real

To scared to step outside
A guy grabbing my breasts, a sore sight
My struggles are real

"You're too strong, you're too loud
Did your mother never teach you cooking to make her proud?"

"You're too assertive, who will marry you?
You're a slut, let me bruise you blue."

"You wear red lipsticks, you scream at men
You like your position underneath them"

"You drink , you smoke, you wear short skirts
Your flavoured condoms are the consent for my girth"

"What do you know about real pain,
You're not even a virgin, oh so much shame."

"Your struggles aren't real, Stop exaggerating your troubles.
Let us show you what are real struggles."

"Your father is privileged, well so are you.
Stop screaming patriarchy. It doesn't affect you."

"You don't know violence, how could a spoilt brat like you know?
Do you have bruises on your body to show?"

"Your struggles aren't real until they're mine
Your struggles aren't real until they include me.
Your struggles aren't real till I see that they are.
Your struggles aren't real, so go back to being glee."

For too long I've been told
"Your struggles aren't real stop being so bold."

Red lipsticks or not, flavoured condoms don't define
What is struggle, whether yours or mine.
My struggles are real, they've battered me down.
I've fought and fallen flat on the ground.
You may seem to silence me through your screams
But I will win the battle through my dreams.
Don't try and scare me, my struggles don't negate.
For all my life, I've been told I am a mistake.
My struggles will remain as real as my life
Stop telling me to forget them and be somebody's wife.
My struggles were real, my struggles are real
Their reality doesn't negate your own fights.
Your struggles are your own
But my struggle also remain to be my right.