08/03/2025
We are strong, independent women
Let me repeat myself
You obviously weren’t listening
We are strong independent women!
Regardless of telling us that “the sky’s the limit”
I know we can reach for the stars
But your actions (yes you, society) are holding us back like gravity
A force meant to be defied
And we will defy your disrespect, mistreatment and misunderstanding
Because we are strong and not afraid to break a nail
To get down and dirty
In fact we will claw, punch and kick our way through your barriers to lead to the top of it all
To our destiny
We will break the chains of social injustice that restricts us
from reaching our dreams and aspirations
We will break free from the cage of your gender stereotypes
I may be a woMAN, a feMALE but you will no longer define me
We are strong, independent women
We are independent because we defy those old Disney princess fantasies
You see, I will stop my wicked witch, slay my dragon, and still have time to run my kingdom
I don’t need Cosmo, 17 nor Vogue to tell me how to dress
I don’t need the media to tell me how to look
I will never be Barbie
She’s a perfectly plastic and fake fantasy
While I’m the real deal
I am more than what you see
I am more than my face
I am strong because i can bleed for 5 days and 4 nights and only get so much as a cramp
I can endure the pain of my body being ripped open just to give birth
And underneath all the screams and blood splatter is a woman turned into a mother
I am more than my body
I am a temple that deserves respect
I am brought by Adam
But made HERstory by Eve
And none shall enter my garden
I am a strong, independent woman
Yes, I may live in my emotions sometimes, and you may scrutinize my expression
But I can walk with my head held high and a smile on my face
I have a voice
I have mind
I have a soul
None of which you can control
Because I am strong and independent
And I am woman....
Adapted from
I AM WOMAN (SPOKEN WORD PIECE)
Powerpoetry.org
Photo: Faculty of pharmacy University of Bradford 2016