This weight we carry

This weight we carry deep within,

As daughters in a world of men,

A self-proclaimed feminist, they say,

Yet still, conditioning holds its sway.

Stereotypes, ingrained in our mind,

Expectations, a cruel bind,

That a woman must conform, it seems,

To sacrifice her hopes and dreams.

Family always comes before our needs,

Job abandoned as society pleads,

But for a man, the rules don't apply,

His ambitions soar, unhindered, high.

Daughters and daughters-in-law, they claim,

Must bear the burden, shoulder the blame,

To care for children, the elderly too,

Leaving all behind, a duty we pursue.

But sons, doesn't matter even if they ignore,

Their purpose clear: to earn, to soar.

For women, it's care that takes the throne,

While their own dreams silently groan.

Though I call myself a feminist, true,

Within, I'm guilty too

For conditioning runs deep and strong,

To sacrifice, no matter the wrong.

But we must break these chains that bind,

Find strength within our heart and mind,

To prioritize our own well-being,

And challenge the roles we're seeing.

For in the fight for equality,

It starts with self, with honesty,

To break free from these gender roles,

And reclaim our worth, our noble souls.

So let us strive to shatter the trope,

Embrace our dreams, find limitless hope,

For in caring for ourselves, we find,

A world transformed, where all can thrive.