Not All Men but What About Every Woman? by Sameeksha Singh (16, India)

I know 'NOT ALL MEN',
I've known them,
My brothers, my friends,
I know they would never hurt me,
They cheered me up when I was sad,
They were there to encourage me.

But when I say,
I saw my elder sister being pinched by a creep
when I was eight,
You saying 'BUT NOT ALL MEN' doesn't help.

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When I say,
I saw my mother being eve-teased by a drunkard jerk
when I was nine,
You saying 'BUT NOT ALL MEN' doesn't help.

When I say,
The same people who said I'm like a sister to them,
body-shamed me behind my back
when I was thirteen,
You saying 'BUT NOT ALL MEN' doesn't help.

I know not all men are the same.
I know there is good in many of them.
I know there are many exceptions.
BUT EVERY WOMAN HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS.

So in the future,
GOD FORBID,
If your sisters or daughters are crying,
and tell you they were harassed,
Don't wipe their tears,
Don't lift their spirits,
Don't tell them to fight,
Don't fight for them,
Hold their hand,
Look into their eyes,
and tell them 'BUT NOT ALL MEN'.