This series of poems expresses stories similar to those of the women who experience harassment of any sort including sexual violence, street harassment amongst others, each day around the world. The Stop Telling Women to Smile art campaign inspired these poems; moreover, giving a voice to women around the world and enabling the public to be cognizant to issues that occur frequently not only in our neighborhoods, but in communities globally was the initial purpose of this work.
Stop Telling Women to Smile is an art series by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. The work addresses gender based street harassment as the drawn portraits of women, composed with captions that speak directly to offenders, are placed outside in public spaces. STWTS began in 2012 in Brooklyn, New York as Tatyana Falzlalizadeh, an illustrator/painter, wanted to establish an impactful tool for tackling street harassment. For more information on the Stop Telling Women to Smile art series and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh visit her website http://stoptellingwomentosmile.com/ and follow her Instagram @tlynnfaz.
I’ll Smile When I Get to Where I’m Going Without Being Harassed
By: Jacqueline Roberts –Kpan
There I am minding my own business
“What to wear, what am I going to say?”
The mental preparation accompanied by message notifications and email ‘dings’
“I got this.”
I’m the new paralegal, a big shot in Manhattan.
Can you blame me for being a little self-righteous?
This Calvin Klein pencil skirt hugs my wide hips
As the fitted button-up clings to all the right places.
I’m professional, a professional African American woman.
As I turn down 5th Ave in my Vera Wang pumps,
I can just taste it, it’s my time to shine.
I approach the building with sparkling glass windows
And at that moment I am ready.
Stares in the elevator,
“Good morning,” I greet the three men.
No response.
I reach the 9th floor and walk into the next chapter of my life.
Being in a business dominated by men,
It’s easy to get discouraged.
And that is exactly what happened the ninth month of me being a paralegal
“You just received this job because you’re a women.”
Yeah, I was branded and initially deemed incompetent.
Not only was I not taken seriously,
But my 8 years of schooling, my 2 Masters degrees ignored.
I didn’t have it afterall.
Was this what I was thought of?
Inferior to the men around me?
That the same guy I began with received a higher position than I,
Despite his absence of credentials, and in a brief amount of time.
I was determined to make it,
Despite the fact that I had a vagina
And was constantly ashamed in the workplace.
I told you I was a professional.
It was my year and a half celebration.
I was called into my boss’ office.
I thought this was the day, the day I get promoted.
And to my surprise it was a day alright, but definitely not the one I had in mind.
I was offered an ultimatum, a proposition he put it.
I could receive the raise and position I wanted,
If I indulged in satisfying him first.
Was I imagining this?
My response despite my professionalism was as follows,
Because I fought to get to where I am today, I am not going to lose my composure,
Mr. Callowhan, with all due respect sir, harassing women does not prove your masculinity,
And as far as I’m concerned you can take that “proposition” and stick it in the very place that brings you the utmost feeling of masculinity.
The next day I handed him my two-weeks’ notice.