I want to live in a world where...

I want to love in a world where women’s voices are acknowledged.

Where they hear us first, before noticing our long hair, sparkling eyes, breasts, shape, smell or femininity.

I want to live in a world the way I see it – neutral. Where I wait to hear your words before I make determinations about your person.

Where it doesn’t matter where I was born or raised, or whether I am wearing Ackermans or Gucci – where the label on my clothes does not determine the level of my intelligence.

I want to live in a world where I don’t have to be afraid of being raped, of being alone with a man in an elevator, or cubicle or taxi. Where ponytails are not a symbol of or tool to subdue or control or kidnap. Where I can ask for music options for my morning run, and responses won’t include warnings about running with earphones because I won’t hear strangers approaching.

I want to live in a world where I can just run.

I want to live in a world where I don’t always have to have my child ‘in line of sight’. Where I don’t panic every time she slips around a corner, worried that depraved men or women will kidnap her and traffic her and do unimaginable things to her which isn’t really unimaginable because it happens every day.

I want to live in a world where those things do not happen every day.

I want to live in a world that I can barely imagine. Where damage is rare. Where children play in the streets, unafraid and not in danger. A world where adults don’t sexualise children, or husbands don’t beat their wives. And girls don’t get raped at parties by people they know. And girls don’t get dragged – out of school or to parties they don’t want to go to or into bushes.

I want to grow up in a world where women don’t feel like they need men: to escape from their own homes or parents or families; or for a lift to a school that is a two hour walk away; or to buy them food or clothes or entertainment; or to save them.

This world already exists, we just don’t know it yet. We don’t see it yet. But as much as I can barely imagine its existence, I strive and work toward this every day.

I believe that women will create this world.

Lenina Rassool

Producer: The Womxn Show

Cape Town, South Africa

Image by Image by Flash Alexander from Pixabay