The Empath Gap
They taught me I was sexist, that women had it tough
However much I bowed and scraped would never be enough
And all the teachers in the school were women, and they taught
That men would soon be obsolete – us boys would come to naught.
I tried to go to college, to get a science degree
They gave a girl a special grant, but hadn’t none for me
And when I asked if it was fair – was this equality?
They called me a misogynist, and threw the book at me.
So I started as a policeman; in raids, I went in fast
Worked with a woman half my weight, who always went in last
I was in line for sergeant, they said “you dinosaur,
We’ve got a quota system now, we don’t need men no more.”
Yes, lookin’ down your nose at men who guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than the wage they’re paid (and that’s starvation cheap)
And talking of glass ceilings, with your quotas and your sneers,
Is five time better business than puttin’ in the years.
And it’s “check your privilege” and “smash the patriarchy” too,
But it’s “special grants for women” when the same applies to you
The same applies to you, girls, the same applies to you
And it’s special grants for women when the same applies to you.
I found the woman of my dreams, and asked her for her hand
She stayed my wife for fifteen weeks, then gave me one demand
She says the kid is mine, but he has different coloured skin;
I have to pay her half my wage, and the court won’t let me see him.
And it’s “women are oppressed” and “all this sexist treatment stinks”
But it’s “women first” and “help her up” when the boat begins to sink
The boat begins to sink girls, the boat begins to sink
When it’s “women first” and “help her up”, the boat begins to sink.
And it’s “women suffer”, “women bleed”, “we want an equal wage”,
But it’s “be a man” and “grow a pair” when a fire begins to rage
A fire begins to rage girls, a fire begins to rage
When it’s “be a man” and “grow a pair”, a fire begins to rage.
And it’s “Men are rapists”, “Men are scum”, and every rotten curse
But it’s “Sexist pig, misogynist” when we say half as worse
And it’s “Men are this” and “Men are that”, and anything you please
And this man’s not your bloody fool – you bet that this man sees!
. unknown author
