It hurts to feel my divine goddessness taken for granted, the world constantly sucking it out of me—on the street, on the internet, on television.

It hurts to be in public sometimes. It hurts to be yelled at, stared at and drooled at. It hurts that I’m not allowed in some spaces because I’m a distraction. It hurts that alongside garlic and onions, men should stay away from me too in order to reach enlightenment.

It hurts that I can never close my eyes and fully relax on the beach, on my bike, on a walk. It hurts that I can feel their eyes boring into me, their minds undressing me, their mouths speaking things that make my chest tight and numb.

It hurts that I stopped looking strangers in the eye long ago, ignoring friendly old men wishing me a good morning for fear they too might give me goosbumps with their slimy grins.

It hurts that the moment I relax my guard and share a smile, it begins to feel stolen. I’m expected to share more—a wink, an approval, a phone number.

It hurts that when a man does me a favor, when he offers to cook me a vegan dinner, to release the tension from my back, to share an intimate and mutual space of trust, the least I’m expected to do is kiss him for his efforts and let him undress me for his time.

It hurts that I feel guilty when I don’t meet his expectations; I feel bad for letting him down. It hurts that this hurts me because I know better.

It hurts that when I say no, I must repeat it at least five times, often in seven different ways. It hurts that this is not an exaggeration. It hurts that I am not listened to, that my words are mere play in a game I didn’t sign up for, that I must defend and re-defend what I said.

I’m not trying to tease you. I don’t want you to touch me. Stop trying to take off my pants.

It hurts that there are only so many ways to say these things, and it hurts even more that boys pretend not to understand them.

It hurts when I love him, when I trust him, and I just let it happen because it’s easier than looking him square in the eyes as to not disappoint him, easier than ending our friendship. It hurts that we didn’t kiss, I didn’t leave, that I lost my power forcing numbness over my body so I wouldn’t have to make a big scene.

It hurts that when I tell my mom, she tells me it was my decision to stay, like that it was somehow my own fault— because things have happened to her and she didn’t have a choice.

It hurts that things have happened to her and she didn’t have a choice.

It hurts that I had a choice but didn’t realize I did. It hurts that actually, I didn’t really have a choice after all.

As I sit here writing, naked on my bed, I look down at all the pieces of me I’m supposed to think are ugly, that I’m supposed to be ashamed of, that I’m supposed to cover and hide. I swivel my nose ring, the one that made a boy think I went to bed with everyone so I’d go to bed with him, even when I was still a virgin.

I look down at the soft bits of me, as important as the deep sturdy muscles that show their power when I move. I look at the silhouette of my body, as important as my bare feet always covered in sand and mud. I look at my sparkling green eyes, as important as my big, impossibly messy hair.

I’m tired of the world picking and choosing. Telling me what to keep and what to leave behind. I’m tired of my worth being solely accountable to him, beauty either silencing or enhancing my voice.

Will no one listen when I am no longer young and pretty?

Will anyone listen because I am young and pretty?

The way I dress isn’t for you. My smile isn’t for you. When I’m reading at a coffee shop, it isn’t an invitation for you.

Don’t slow traffic so you can follow me down the street as I walk. Don’t tell me to stop raising my hand in class because I’ll marry a wealthy man and won’t need to understand algebra. Don’t leave your number, but not leave a tip when I’m your waitress. I don’t want your number and I don’t want your compliments.

I’m busy and you don’t know me. You don’t know what I’ve been through, you don’t know that every single day I feel hurt because I exist as I am.

Don’t holler at me from your car—call your sister and tell her how much you love her. Tell your wife how good her hair smells. Thank your mother for doing the best she could with what she had. Embrace and support the women already in your life, instead of shouting empty words to a passing stranger with a body you like.

Boys, she doesn’t exist for you. You exist because of her.

Hold her hand and help her rise—step aside so she can scream and yell and cry. For once, stay silent. Hug her when she’s done.

Girls, you exist for you. Wear high-waisted shorts without a second thought. Hug yourself, treat yourself, take care of yourself. Cry because it’s hard and laugh because you’re stronger. Realize that it may feel like the world is sucking it out of you, but your divine goddessness is endless and infinite. It never stops, and it will never end.

Forgive them, forgive yourself. We’re all stuck in this system that has trapped us into stagnancy. Yet here we are, moving and going and flowing.

When you don’t feel safe somewhere, anywhere, leave.

When a girlfriend asks you to leave somewhere, anywhere, leave with her.

When you’re sitting on a bus and don’t like the vibes you’re getting from the man next to you, change seats.

There doesn’t have to be a reason. Don’t be afraid of being rude.

You deserve to feel safe, you deserve to feel loved, you deserve to exist as you.

If you are reading this, you are miles ahead of many. You are literate, you are (probably) liberal, and you have access to the internet.

I realize my privilege, and can’t even comprehend it when I think about the millions of women the world over going through horrors I dare not even dream about.

If you are reading this, you are lucky because you are never alone. There are so many people you can call who want to help you, who want to hear your story.

You can call the Assaulted Woman’s Helpline
You can reach out to the National Domestic Violence Helpline
You can share your story with the girls at Hollaback NYC

If you need someone to talk to, you can e-mail me, I will listen to you.

Boys, girls, and everything in between, we’re existing together. Let’s make us feel safe together.

Love elephant and want to go steady?

Sign up for our (curated) daily and weekly newsletters!

Editor: Travis May

Photo:  Ruby Velour