A Woman’s Manifesto

Because a woman’s work is never done.

and is underpaid, or unpaid, or boring, or repetitious,

and we’re the first to get fired,

and what we look like is more important than what we do.

And if we get raped its our fault

and if we get beaten we must have provoked it

and if we raise our voices we’re nagging bitches

and if we enjoy sex we’re nymphos

and if we don’t we’re frigid

and if we love women it’s because we can’t get a real man

and if we ask our doctor too many questions we’re neurotic or pushy

and if we expect childcare we’re selfish

and if we stand up for our rights we’re aggressive and un-feminine

and if we don’t we’re typical weak females

and if we want to get married we’re out to trap a man

and if we don’t we’re unnatural

and because we still can’t get an adequate, safe contraceptive, but men can walk on the moon

and if we can’t cope or don’t want a pregnancy we’re made to feel guilty about abortion

and for lots and lots of other reasons

we are part of the women’s liberation movement.

– Joyce Stevens, International Woman’s Day, 1975.