In elementary school,
I wanted to take karate and swimming lessons.
But mama refused, because I was a girl and it was inappropriate.
I suggested to my brother that he give it a go.
Even though he had no interest in either karate or swimming,
But he was a boy so it was okay for him.
He didn’t last a month, as expected.
In nearly everything I tried to do,
I was confronted with the words:
“You can’t because you’re a girl!”
But nothing was off-limits to boys.
Even when it came to travel or university,
My choices were limited to the country I lived in,
Even if the choice wasn’t suitable.
I hope to see the day when parents stop perpetuating the myth of
“You can’t because you’re a girl!”
It’s as if I’m something shameful.