Hairy Like a Man

My parents made me wear the hijab when I was young,
Because I’m hairy.
That’s the word my mother used.
“She’s hairy like her aunt.
How unfortunate.”

Ever since primary school and up until college,
The main function of my clothes was to hide my body hair.
I tried all the hair removal methods.
But people never consider how painful it is.
It’s a waste of time trying to make my body look a certain way.
The way everyone wants it to be.

My parents hurt me in so many ways,
But referring to me by my aunt’s name,
Because we were both hairy “like men”,
Was painful.

I wish people would understand that my gender,
Does not dictate the amount of hair on my back.
I have hair on my back, regardless of my gender.
More hair than I’ve seen on any person who identifies as male.
I have body hair,
And I have no problem with it.

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