Boys Will be Boys
It’s pathetic, right?
How easily we can say
“Boys will be boys.”
Because if we call them boys, it makes it okay for them to play rough and act tough. It makes it okay for them to never be held accountable for their actions. Because it makes it easier for us to digest when these boys grow into men and continue their harmful behaviors. Because it makes it easier for us to neglect that these boys are a real threat to our women.
Let’s not ignore: Ruth George was not merely catcalled, followed, sexually assaulted, and killed. A man did the catcalling, did the following, committed the rape, and carried out the murder. Doctor Priyanka Reddy was not simply tricked, drugged, gangraped, and murdered. Men deceived her, forced alcohol down her throat, gangraped her, and killed her. These were not passive acts that ‘just happened’; they were active and intentional.
Men, are you not ashamed?
To be forever reduced
to the mental capacity of a child?
To be identified
by an animalistic instinct?
To be presumed as
Incapable of moral behavior?
You shouldn’t want to just be boys,
When you can be so much more.
Teach our boys to be humans.
Humans who can, if nothing else,
Respect dignity and life of others.
Because until we say
“Boys will be boys,”
Our girls will be girls.
They will be girls who are:
Silenced.
Victimized.
Catcalled.
Harassed.
Raped.
Murdered.
Gone.
